Highland Hospital Breaks Ground for New Wolk Emergency Department
October 11, 2006
Highland Hospital is moving forward with a $9 million expansion of its Emergency Department and construction of a new Ambulatory Procedure Center. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Wednesday, October 11, 2006 to kick off the construction.
The ED project is able to move forward thanks to a $1-Million grant from the Wolk Foundation to expand the Highland Emergency Department.
The Highland Emergency Department will be named the Wolk Emergency Department in recognition of the $1 million gift by the Louis S. and Molly B. Wolk Foundation to support the renovation and expansion of the ED.
"The Emergency Department expansion project will greatly enhance our emergency department services and benefit the entire community," said Cindy Becker, vice president and chief operating officer of Highland Hospital.
Highland's Emergency Department was last renovated in 1975. Over the past seven years, the annual ED volume has increased by almost 12,000 visits. This year Highland expects to treat over 28,000 patients in its Emergency Department.
The ED project will be done in phases. Phase one begins with the relocation of the Ambulatory Procedure Center, which is located next to the ED. The current ED configuration will expand from 7,000 square feet to 17,751 square feet and from 18 acute care beds to 25.
"Our clinical staff is looking forward to moving ahead with our expansion plan. The new configuration will improve our efficiency by increasing the square footage and adding new innovative technology. Everything we do will benefit our patients and the community," said Dr. John Hilmi, director of the Highland Hospital Emergency Department.
Highland Hospital continues to be one of the fastest growing hospitals in the region. In May, Highland dedicated the new Department of Surgery/Bariatric Center. Highland's Bariatric Surgery program is one of the largest in the Northeast. In addition, in March of 2005, Highland opened the Evarts Joint Center for orthopaedics. The Center includes a 20-bed inpatient unit and two operating rooms. Early next year, the Evarts Joint Center will open an outpatient clinic off the main lobby.
Get more information about the Highland Hospital Emergency Department.