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Renovations improve safety, access for patients, visitors

Renovations improve safety, access for patients, visitors

Following the re-opening of an enhanced hospital entrance earlier this year, Carle continues work to the Emergency Department (ED).

Rendering of Ambulance ED EntryThe current effort redesigns the Emergency Department entryway, optimizing available space and patient/visitor safety. Once completed, the renovated ED entryway will provide separate ambulance and walk-in patient entrances, and the number of ambulance bays increases from four to six to meet rising demand.

Two separate entrances – one for the public and one for emergency responders – also improve privacy.

“These renovations will make our emergency care entrances more visible and will reduce congestion,” Lynne Barnes, senior vice president of Facilities and chief operating officer at Carle Foundation Hospital, said.

Beginning July 7, patients in the Emergency Department will enter through the recently renovated ambulance bays while construction to the patient entrance moves forward.

“These improvements will be very visible. Visitors and patients will have new entrance points when the renovations are complete,” said Nick Crompton, executive director, Facility, planning and construction.

What patients need to know about accessing the ED during construction:

  • Coler Avenue will become a one-way (enter only).
  • Follow signs to “Emergency Department Entrance.”
  • Enter through the ambulance bays marked “Emergency Vehicles Only.” Enter the building and turn right. Follow signs to registration.
  • Due to ongoing COVID-19 visitor restrictions, our current policy allows patients in the Emergency Department one support person, two support people for Pediatric patients. Approved hospital visitors must enter through Outpatients Services Entrance (Orchard Street.)
  • Pedestrian traffic will reroute around the construction as it evolves.

Construction begins in July with estimated by the end of the year.

We appreciate your patience as we expand and update our Level 1 Trauma Center. Pedestrian traffic will reroute around the construction as it evolves.

“We’re pleased to continue to invest in our community by providing enhancements for both patients and visitors. As the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, our focus is in on advancing patient safety and satisfaction when they need critical, life-saving care,” Barnes said.

Categories: Culture of Quality

Tags: “emergency, ambulance, Champaign-Urbana, department”, patients, safety, visitors