UPMC East emergency department doubling capacity
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UPMC East in Monroeville said Friday it is expanding its emergency department and doubling its capacity to accommodate patients.
The hospital will begin using the new space on Aug. 24.
The $24 million emergency department expansion adds 30,000 square feet to UPMC East. With the renovation, the number of private emergency exam rooms increased from 24 to 44, with 10 observation beds dedicated to short stay patients.
“Since opening UPMC East eight years ago, we have expanded comprehensive services like heart and vascular, orthopaedic and oncology care and have seen continual growth in the number of patients seeking care in our emergency department,” said Mark O’Hern, president of UPMC East and UPMC McKeesport. “By expanding this area, we are able to better meet the needs of our community, improving access and significantly reducing wait times for our emergency patients.”
The renovation, which began in April 2019, also expanded ground floor service areas in central sterile processing, clinical engineering and information technology, according to UPMC officials.
“We have had the opportunity to provide excellent quality care close to home every day for the residents of the eastern suburbs in and around Monroeville,” said Dr. Rajesh Sehgal, vice president of medical affairs at UPMC East. “As the community grows, our goal is to grow with it. We worked closely with physicians, staff and local EMS throughout the planning stages to expand the world-class services our patients expect of UPMC.”
A retail pharmacy is expected to open in the emergency department this fall.
“When patients are getting discharged, they will not need to stop on their way home or send loved ones to a pharmacy,” Sehgal said. “We can provide them with a 30-day supply right here.”