Salem Health is pleased to announce that its $3M expansion of the Salem Hospital emergency department is complete.

The project addresses needs of the growing community and creates an improved experience for patients. This is the third expansion to the ED in the eight-year life of the hospital’s Building A.

“At Salem Health, our first priority is improving the health and well-being of our communities. We’re not just expanding, we’re also enhancing some of our processes and models of care in the ED,” said Sarah Horn, RN, Salem Health chief nursing officer. “These changes will allow us to see patients in a much more efficient and timely manner and we’re excited to have it up and running.”

Rapid population growth, an aging population and declining overall health in the Mid-Willamette Valley mean growing health care needs. Salem Health is working to accommodate these realities. Salem Hospital’s emergency department is already the busiest ED on the West Coast between Canada and San Francisco, seeing over 300 patients per day on average. The ED expansion is necessary to meet health care needs as the population grows.

The expansion includes more exam rooms and a new treatment track for patients with less complicated diagnoses. These changes will decrease the time it takes for patients to see a provider and create a better patient experience. Demolition began last September and the new expansion is set to be complete and ready for patients tomorrow, February 15.

Salem Health offers exceptional care to people in and around Oregon’s Mid-Willamette Valley. It comprises hospitals in Salem and Dallas, a medical group of primary and specialty care providers, plus other affiliated services. Visit us at www.salemhealth.org; “Like” us on www.facebook.com/salemhealth; follow us on Twitter: @salemhealth; and view us at www.youtube.com/salemhealth.