St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia, Mich., has opened an addition that includes a new emergency center and two floors of private patient rooms. The milestone marks the end of the first of two phases in the hospital's $89 million renovation.
The emergency center St. Mary Mercy opened in the fall has more than 50 treatment rooms. It has increased the capacity of the Senior ER treatment area to 14 beds from six. The Senior ER's clinicians have received geriatric training. The Senior ER initiative is a systemwide effort of St. Mary Mercy's parent, Trinity Health of Livonia.
The emergency center also has improved capacity to serve patients with behavioral health needs. The renovation added seven behavioral health rooms with safety features including smooth surfaces, secured medical equipment that patients can't access and cameras to monitor patients.
With the opening of the emergency center, St. Mary Mercy transitioned to a new patient admission process: A clinical team that includes a physician now assesses incoming patients and triages them to the specialized treatment area that best meets their needs.
St. Mary Mercy is renovating semi-private patient rooms in an existing wing to convert them into private rooms. While St. Mary Mercy's licensed bed count of 304 does not change with the renovation, the facility will increase its private room capacity to 240, from 84, by the time it completes construction in 2014.
St. Mary Mercy is part of Saint Joseph Mercy Health System of Ypsilanti, Mich.
Copyright © 2013 by the Catholic Health Association of the United States
For reprint permission, contact Betty Crosby or call (314) 253-3477.