{"id":7908,"date":"2006-03-15T17:30:57","date_gmt":"2006-03-15T22:30:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/?p=7908"},"modified":"2011-07-06T08:30:44","modified_gmt":"2011-07-06T13:30:44","slug":"swedish-covenant-to-double-emergency-room-size","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/2006\/03\/15\/swedish-covenant-to-double-emergency-room-size\/","title":{"rendered":"Swedish Covenant to Double Emergency Room Size"},"content":{"rendered":"

CHICAGO, IL (March 15, 2006) – Ground was broken Monday for a $10 million expansion of the emergency department at Swedish Covenant Hospital (SCH), with completion of the project scheduled for Spring 2007.<\/p>\n

The expansion was necessary to handle an increasing volume of patients, due in part to the closing of two neighboring hospitals in recent years as well as ongoing efforts to improve the quality of facilities and heightened levels of patient care.<\/p>\n

\"Rep. \"CEO “For decades, Swedish Covenant Hospital has filled the critical need for emergency treatment, providing care delivered with utmost compassion and the highest levels of medical skills and technological innovations,” said CEO Mark Newton in his opening remarks to the crowd gathered in one of the parking areas near the existing emergency department entrance.<\/p>\n

Guests included physicians and medical staff, board members, donors, administrative personnel and other dignitaries, with special guest 5th District Congressman Rahm Emanuel also commending the efforts of Swedish Covenant to expand and improve facilities in recent years.<\/p>\n

To see additional photos from the groundbreaking, please see SCH Emergency Room Groundbreaking.<\/a><\/p>\n

Citing the need for major health care form throughout the United States, Emanuel expressed his personal pleasure in helping provide some $1 million in federal funding to assist in the project, working closely with U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois. The son of a pediatrician and nurse, Emanuel reiterated his commitment to push for investments in medical care for residents on the north side of Chicago.<\/p>\n

“Recent developments make meeting the daily, around-the-clock mission in the emergency department much more challenging,” Newton observed, paying special attention to the two hospital closings. “We have witnessed an astounding 117 percent annual increase in ambulance visits and our patient count in the emergency room now exceeds more than 41,000 annually,” he noted.<\/p>\n

\"Ceremonial “At the same time, we have expanded many of our services, such as those in the cardiovascular and interventional radiology areas,” he continued. “Without question, these represent positive, valuable expansions of what we offer to patients. Yet, the broadening of such capabilities also contributes to an escalation in emergency department visits. The numbers I just cited dramatically illustrate this absolute fact: the Swedish Covenant Hospital emergency department is bursting at the seams. We needed to take action to meet these current patient levels and prepare for future growth. Today’s event marks a significant step in that response.”<\/p>\n

Plans include doubling the size of the emergency department (adding 11,000 square feet), including:<\/p>\n