Our
hospital will break ground this year on an exciting and necessary new
addition which will provide the Emergency Department with much needed space
and flow-design improvement. We will more than double the size of the
department to 28,000 square feet. This additional space will allow for four
trauma/resuscitation bays, 30 private exam rooms as well as specially
equipped Orthopedic, CMS/Obstetric/Gynecologic and Psychiatric rooms. Also,
a dedicated isolation room with showers for adults and non-ambulatory
patients as well as wash stations for infants and toddlers will allow for a
safe and comfortable decontamination area. While comprehensive radiography
and laboratory capabilities will remain within close proximity, we will
house a digital radiography suite and two point-of-care labs within the
department. The department’s pod type design will permit expansion and
contraction of the facility with fluctuations in patient volumes.
Patients presenting to our new department will be ushered to one of four
triage bays and then either placed directly into an exam room or one of two
waiting rooms, based on acuity. For patients and physicians at outlying
facilities, we will be equipped with telemedicine capabilities allowing for
real-time video consultation, extending our assistance and influence
through-out the state.
Both
physician and nursing staff has had input into the design of the department
and while layout has been finalized, faculty will continue to be involved as
the individual room design evolves; architects and internal designers will
have an opportunity to mock up exam room ideas and have medical staff work
in these environments prior to their actual construction.
This is an exciting time for both our department and the hospital at large.
Stay tuned for more developments.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Department of Pediatrics
Our
hospital will break ground this year on an exciting and necessary new
addition which will provide the Emergency Department with much needed space
and flow-design improvement. We will more than double the size of the
department to 28,000 square feet. This additional space will allow for four
trauma/resuscitation bays, 30 private exam rooms as well as specially
equipped Orthopedic, CMS/Obstetric/Gynecologic and Psychiatric rooms. Also,
a dedicated isolation room with showers for adults and non-ambulatory
patients as well as wash stations for infants and toddlers will allow for a
safe and comfortable decontamination area. While comprehensive radiography
and laboratory capabilities will remain within close proximity, we will
house a digital radiography suite and two point-of-care labs within the
department. The department’s pod type design will permit expansion and
contraction of the facility with fluctuations in patient volumes. 
Both
physician and nursing staff has had input into the design of the department
and while layout has been finalized, faculty will continue to be involved as
the individual room design evolves; architects and internal designers will
have an opportunity to mock up exam room ideas and have medical staff work
in these environments prior to their actual construction.