Hospital Expands Emergency Department and Radiology Services

Shands Starke broke ground on Friday, Aug. 24, on a 4,300-square-foot addition that will more than double the size of its Emergency Department. The new area will add five exam rooms, a nursing station, a decontamination area for toxic or biohazardous incidents, a family bereavement room and a separate waiting room for patients and families. When the project is complete in May 2008, Shands Starke’s Emergency Department will have 10 private beds, including two isolation rooms.

When the addition is completed, the original Emergency Department area will be renovated, bringing the total size of the department to 7,400 square feet. All of the beds will be specially equipped to treat critical patients.

“The Emergency Department expansion and renovations are necessary to stay ahead of the growing demand for emergency services in Bradford County and the surrounding area,” Shands Starke Administrator Jeannie Baker said.

From July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2007, Shands Starke had 15,000 patient visits to the Emergency Department. Baker said she expects to continue to see a three to four percent increase in demand for emergency services every year.

The nine-month, $4.4-million project is just one of numerous improvements to patient care at Shands Starke in recent months. In May, the hospital installed a new eight-slice CT scanner and will install Bradford County’s first MRI unit within the month. Additionally, the Emergency Department recently expanded hours for its Fast Track program, which reduces patient wait times, enabling them to be triaged and treated more quickly.

“We’ve seen excellent results so far, and our patients have been extremely happy with our efforts to make their visit as short and pleasant as possible,” said Baker.

The addition is slated for completion in January 2008. Renovations to the original Emergency Department are expected to be finished by May 2008.

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