FLORIDA MEDICAL CENTER ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF

NEW EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT WING

Addition is First Phase in a $5.1 Million Renovation and Expansion

 FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – January 7, 2004 – In response to the rapid growth and increased demand for emergency care by the communities it serves, Florida Medical Center will unveil a new Emergency Department wing – the first phase of a $5.1 million renovation and expansion.

Florida Medical Center’s CEO, Aurelio Fernandez, along with physicians, hospital staff, city officials and community leaders, will preside over the ribbon-cutting and grand opening ceremony of the new ER, to take place on Thursday, January 8, 2004 at 5:00 p.m. outside the new ER entrance, located behind the main entrance at 5000 W. Oakland Park Boulevard. 

“These upgrades will not only enable us to offer a more aesthetically-pleasing environment of care but may also help reduce waiting time for treatment, promoting increased patient satisfaction, which is our ultimate goal,” said Fernandez.  “In addition to improved accommodations and greater privacy, we will also be able to increase the efficiency of our ER nursing staff, due to the new centralized nursing command center, which will serve as a focal point for the new ER.” 

The 5,300 square feet of new construction, which is the completion of Phase I of the ER expansion and renovation project, includes an ambulance entrance and canopy with a wall for increased patient privacy; 16 private exam rooms, with two critical care suites dedicated to the specialized treatment of cardiac and stroke patients; two new flow-through triage rooms; several private registration stations; a centralized nursing command center; new entrances for physicians and the general public; and a separate decontamination entrance for anyone exposed to hazardous materials.  Additionally, the expanded ER will house a new Care Team Unit for psychiatric intake of both adults and children.  Combined with the completion of Phase II, the renovation of the 14,000 square foot existing ER, the project will have cost $5.1 million.

“The physical expansion is the first step in improving services within our ER,” said Dr. Louis Isaacson, Medical Director of the ER.  “The next phase, renovation of 14,000 square feet of existing space, is slated for completion in July 2004.  We are excited about all the changes and the positive impact they will have on our ability to deliver quality emergency care to our surrounding communities.”

Once complete, the ER will have grown to approximately 19,000 square feet and will contain a total of 26 private examination rooms.  Among the areas being renovated during the second phase of construction are:  admitting, business office, patient waiting, diagnostics, fast track treatment and additional patient exam rooms.