ER Expansion

REDLANDS, CA - Just in time for the winter cold and flu season, which traditionally drives more people to hospital emergency rooms, and to accommodate the growing demand for emergency medical services, Redlands Community Hospital is putting the finishing touches on an ER remodel and expansion project. When completed, the project will increase the number of beds by 62%, from 13 to 21 beds, and a streamlined triage system will expedite evaluation of each patient’s medical needs.

The hospital’s Emergency Department treats an average of 108 patients per day, and often treats up to 140 patients on a busy day. This is more than double the average seen a few years ago. In the past year, more than 40,000 patients came through the ER seeking medical aid.

"The number of patients turning to our emergency room for medical care has increased significantly," said Diane Johnson, director of Critical Care Services, which includes overseeing the hospital’s ER. "The expansion was necessary to ensure that the community continues to have a high quality resource for their emergency medical needs."

Also being added is a dual triage system which involves an initial assessment to determine if a patient should be routed through the Fastrack system or if a more acute level of emergency care is required.

Patients with minor emergencies will be seen in the "Fastrack" system. "For those with minor illnesses or injuries, we have PA’s (physician assistants) and a team of rapid assessment professionals who will identify and treat those patients in a very efficient manner," said Johnson. "This gives us more time to treat those with serious health risks, such as patients who need immediate and critical care services."

Patients with more serious health conditions will be taken to an ER bed for further examination and treatment, and possible admission.

The hospital does not want patients to suffer long waits while they are ill or injured. Waiting time can mean the difference between life and death. "The expansion of our hospital’s Emergency Department is an important part of our multi-year redevelopment project," said Jim Holmes, president and CEO of Redlands Community Hospital. "Community hospitals like Redlands serve to support the community and our ER is its safety net. Demand for emergency care is growing and we need more space and improved systems to make sure we are meeting the medical needs of our area."

The $650,000 expansion effort was funded in part by donations made to the RCH Foundation. The hospital’s new ER will be unveiled in the next several weeks, pending final approval from the Department of Health Services.

The ER expansion will include a new room with eight beds.

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