Los Alamitos, CA. June 2011) – Los Alamitos Medical Center expanded their Emergency Department to twenty patient care areas on June 23rd. The addition of eight rooms will allow the busy department to treat more patients, decrease wait times, and decrease diversion times for emergency vehicles.
“The ER staff is excited to have more rooms and an expanded area,” said Kathy Robidoux, Emergency Department Director. “We’ve added a lot of technology over the years and it’s nice to catch up space-wise.” Some of the innovative technology includes an online program so people with non-life threatening emergencies can hold their place online and wait in the comfort of their home, MedHost, which is used to control and manage patient flow, and electronic charting for physician notes, medication reconciliation and more.
The expansion from 12 to 20 beds was seamless because of an extensive construction project that reconfigured the space directly adjacent to the existing department. This allowed the existing Emergency Department to operate as usual while the expanded area was under construction. The new area was designed for maximum comfort and quality care for patients. In addition to having all the necessary medical equipment, each room also has a flat screen television. Access to the ER remains the same; patients will continue to use the same entrance and registration area.
The expansion will help accommodate the increasing demand for emergency services. The hospital has more than doubled its ER capacity over the last ten years and has used a variety of measures to handle that growth including a Fast-Track service and new software to improve patient flow, services and wait times. The hospital provides comprehensive care during medical emergencies to thousands of families annually.
Los Alamitos Medical Center’s Emergency Department treats patients 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week and is staffed by board-certified emergency medicine physicians. An official grand opening will be held in the coming months.
Los Alamitos Medical Center received Joint Commission Advanced Certification as a Primary Stroke Center, Joint Commission Advanced Certification in Heart Failure, Joint Commission Certification of Distinction in the Management of Coronary Artery Disease,
American Stroke Association Get With the Guidelines Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award for Stroke, American Heart Association Get With the Guidelines Gold Performance Achievement Award for Heart Failure, and is one of six hospitals selected by the California Department of Public Health to participate in a pilot project for Elective PCI’s under Senate Bill 891.