University of Iowa Health Care has opened a new pediatric emergency space within its emergency department at the university campus, completing a multi-year expansion project.
According to a release, the new facility at 200 Hawkins Drive adds 17 emergency care beds for adults and children, along with expanded spaces for behavioral health patients. The project represents the final phase of the emergency department expansion at the university campus, a multi-year effort.
“More Iowans rely on us than ever before, making it critical to expand access to emergency and trauma care services,” said Dr. Denise Jamieson, UI vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Carver College of Medicine. “Having modern spaces, optimized for patient care and workflow, is an important first step to improving our efficiency and increasing access.”
The pediatric emergency department features private exam rooms, dedicated waiting areas and design elements similar to UI Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital. The space includes calming lighting and artwork designed for young patients.
“We understand having a child with a medical emergency can be a scary experience for families,” said Dr. Andrew Nugent, chair and departmental executive officer for UI Health Care’s Department of Emergency Medicine. “The result is an updated space that is brighter and offers a more healing environment to help calm our youngest patients.”
Dr. Sarah Miller, pediatric medical director for the emergency department, said the separate waiting rooms should help alleviate families’ fears about seeking emergency care. The department will also add a child life specialist to support young patients.
“Our faculty and staff here are specially trained to support young patients needing emergency care,” she said.
UI Health Care now operates three emergency departments: at the downtown campus, North Liberty campus and university campus. The health system expects a 10% increase in emergency visits across all three locations in the next year.
“By adding two new emergency departments to our system of care and increasing capacity at university campus, we are able to provide patients with more options and a higher level of coordinated care,” Nugent said. “With these enhanced capabilities, we can streamline our operations and continue improving the patient experience.”
All three emergency departments are equipped to handle various types of emergencies, with the university campus focusing on the most complex cases as other locations handle routine emergencies.
