To enhance safety and improve the patient experience, Riverside Health invested over $1 million in renovations on the Level II Trauma Center at Riverside Regional Medical Center (RRMC). RRMC’s Emergency Department (ED) provided care for over 76,000 patients in 2023, reflecting a growing demand for emergency services. This increase mirrors national trends seen across acute care facilities, where the demand for emergency services continues to grow alongside the need for enhanced safety measures.
“We recognized the need to enhance both safety and the patient experience at the entryway of our Emergency Department,” says Mary Haigh, RN, Nursing Director of RRMC Emergency Department. “Our goal is to ensure that every individual, be that a team member, patient, or visitor, who walks through our doors feels secure and supported from the moment they arrive, and these improvements will help us accomplish this goal.”
Enhancements include additional safety screening protocols, an enclosed reception area with two electrocardiograms (EKG’s) rooms and thoughtfully designed spacing to separate clinical treatment areas from the waiting room. The private triage area is convenient for care workflows, allowing triage nurses to quickly assess ambulatory patients and move them to the next step of their care journey.
“Our recent renovations provide an even better environment for our team members and patients, allowing us to enhance the exceptional care we’ve always strived to provide,” says Elena Garrett, M.D., RRMC ED physician and Service Line Chief of Emergency Services. “These changes improve our patient privacy, provide a safer and more functional workspace and support our team’s ability to expedite care for our patients.”
Construction for this project began in March 2024, and initial renovations have been completed. In the coming months a dedicated exit vestibule will be constructed to further improve patient and visitor flow at RRMC’s ED entrance. These improvements represent Riverside Health’s dedication to evolving with the needs of our community and ensuring that every patient receives the best possible care.
To learn more about services offered at Riverside Regional Medical Center, please visit riversideonline.com/rrmc.