St. Luke’s Expansion Means Faster Service, Increased Quality of Care

	“Our patients will have faster service, more room and more quality care,” said Linda Bodenmann, COO.

“This project was designed to respond directly to the needs of patients who require, and deserve, high-quality care in a timely manner,” said Ronald B. Goodspeed, MD, MPH, President of Southcoast Hospitals Group.

The population that St. Luke’s serves experiences a number of health issues that often mean longer hospital stays and more people depending upon the Emergency Department for care they might otherwise receive in a doctor’s office.

The community is aging, there are not enough primary care physicians, the number of people without health insurance is increasing and people’s illnesses are more severe than they used to be.

St. Luke’s also has been struggling with a shortage of medical beds for several years. This lack of beds causes a domino effect that ends with an overcrowded ED that has problems of its own.

Each year 73,000 patients look to the St. Luke’s ED for services — far more than the 55,000 it was designed to help. When no beds are available in the hospital, patients waiting in the ED to be admitted take up treatment space that could be used by other sick people.

Renovations to the Emergency Department will add 20 new private treatment bays, so that more patients can be treated at the same time.

A new “fast lane” option, called ExpressCare 24, will speed patients with minor complaints such as flu, ear infection and suture removal through the ED in less than an hour.

Floor space in the Memorial Building will triple, adding 32 new, spacious rooms in a “race-track” floor design that will increase efficiency and improve patient flow.

“The addition of these beds will help get ED patients waiting for hospital beds admitted faster and patients waiting in the ED seen more rapidly,” said Robert Gauthier, Vice President of Support Services, who is supervising the construction project.

The demand for surgery in the area is steadily increasing and with it the demand for top-quality surgeons.

“The addition of two new operating suites will make scheduling elective surgery more convenient for both surgeons and patients and will help us attract top quality surgeons,” said James Butterick, MD, Chief Medical Officer.

“The changes we are making to St. Luke’s will serve the entire community,” said Linda Bodenmann, Chief Operating Officer. “Physicians and staff will have better facilities to work in. Our patients and their families will have faster service, more room and increased quality care.”

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