CREJ

March 2020 \ BUILDING DIALOGUE \ 35 were also evaluated. As a result, the team determined a split- flow model, utilizing an intake process to assign a patient’s Emergency Severity Index, would be a key design element. Animportant feature toprovide theESI assessment are four intake rooms, which incorporate throughput flow utilizing an on-stage/off-stage door configuration. Patients are called directly fromthe primarywaiting area into one of the four in- take rooms,wherepatients’ vitalsare takenandtheirESI isas- sessed. The patient is then taken directly into the super track, or main ED. The super track contains six exam rooms set up identically to the main ED exam rooms, thus improving staff efficiency. “The super track is like an urgent care on steroids, combining the best of both an urgent care and a full-service ER,” remarked Dr. Michael Roshon, M.D., PhD., medical direc- tor of clinical transformation. “Patients are quickly assessed and treated, like in an urgent care, with resources of the ER readily available if needed.” Other features of the new ED include an ED-dedicated CT and X-ray, results waiting, staff work areas illuminated by natural daylight fromanoverhead skylight, and a waiting room that features mountain views. • Project goals met. “As an emergency physician, the ED de- sign is as close to perfect as I have seenwith triage, fast-track, an internal waiting area, and other areas designed to inte- grate seamlessly for the patient and our staff,” said Penrose- St. Francis Health Systems President and CEO Brian Erling, M.D 1. Goal 1, expandednumber of beds to serve a growingpopu- lation: The number of patient beds in the newEDwas almost doubled over the previous ED design. 2. Goal 2, decreased patient wait times and increased pa- tient satisfaction: The average wait time decreased to just 10 minutes (door-to-doctor). The SFMC EDhas also seen a 30% in- crease in patient satisfaction since its opening. \\ paul@rtaarchitects.com ELEMENTS Construction Methods RTA Architects and Time Frame Images The waiting room at the new St. Francis Medical Center ED features natural daylight and mountain views.