Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital revives emergency room expansion

<p>St. Joseph Health System, which runs Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, on Wednesday approved a $15 million expansion of Memorial's emergency department, a project that had been postponed after the collapse of the economy in 2008.</p><p>The work, which is expected to begin in early 2012, will add nearly 50 percent more space to the county's busiest emergency room and the North Coast's only level II trauma center, St. Joseph officials said. It will feature 26 private patient rooms and is expected to be completed in early 2014.</p><p>Memorial's emergency department currently treats more than 100 patients a day, officials said.</p><p>“We at Memorial really want to provide the highest level care possible,” said Kristy Gaub, director of emergency and trauma services. “The department was built many years ago and it's in need of a modernization.”</p><p>The upgraded emergency department is intended to also provide faster care to people with non-traumatic conditions, including stroke and heart attack patients.</p><p>The plan calls for construction of a 4,228 square-foot single-story addition next to the current 9,280-square-foot space. The project will increase beds from 19 to 26, convert patient bays to private rooms and provide bigger waiting and reception areas.</p><p>While St. Joseph has received pledges for donations, the project has yet to receive sufficient pledges to cover the cost of the expansion.</p>