The renovation will enhance the capability of the Emergency Room by increasing in the number of patient rooms, better line of sight for staff to patients, improving the flow of patients through the department, increasing privacy, and triage space, and adding a separate decontamination area.

“We also are focusing on ultimately decreasing the waiting time for patients,” said CMDR Elizabeth Engelman, NC, USN, Head, Nursing Resources, Primary Care Directorate.

According to Engelman, the medical services currently provided by the Emergency Room, as well as Physical Therapy and the Chiropractic Clinic, will continue during the reconstruction.

“Unfortunately, we do anticipate there might be some delay and an increase in wait time in the ER during our renovation,” said Engelman, who notes that NHB ER time is noticeably lower than the national average of almost four hours. “People should expect a longer wait time than normal due to space limitations. During the actual physical move, we plan to offer more acute appointments in the Primary Care Clinics so during that week there will be less follow-up appointments available. We are also recommending that follow-up appointments be scheduled now.”

In order to accommodate the necessary ambulance, paramedic, and fire department vehicle services, the flow of traffic for the Mt Baker Patient Parking Lot will also undergo a change. The lot became one-way on Jan. 22. Access will only be from Boone Road, with the exit onto Higbee Road.

The estimated time-frame for completion of all projects has the Emergency Room returning to original spaces in mid to late July, Physical Therapy and Chiropractic Clinic back into original spaces in early to mid-September, and the facility gym returning to original spaces between late October and mid-November.