On Sept. 28, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health celebrated the opening of phase one of the emergency department expansion project at Lancaster General Hospital (LGH). The opening celebration included a ribbon cutting, remarks from project leadership, and tours of the new facility.
Representatives from across Lancaster County came to celebrate the opening, including attendees from the LG Health Board of Trustees, Benchmark Construction and architectural firm Perkins & Will, health system and Medical Staff executives, and other business and community leaders.
Carolyn F. Scanlan, chairperson, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Board of Trustees, shared at the ceremony that “the cutting of the ribbon symbolizes the ‘opening’ of something new, much like when a ribbon is cut from a nicely packaged gift before unwrapping. The cutting reflects a desire for a ‘clear path’ forward, the promise of new beginnings, and the hope for a healthy future for all.”
Phase one of the LGH Emergency Department project includes 30 patient rooms; enhanced security features including metal detection; three distinct patient waiting rooms for adult, pediatric, and overflow areas; and additional screens within patient rooms so they are informed on wait times, the names of their care team, updates on lab work, and more.
“The opening of this first phase of the Trauma & Emergency Department represents an unprecedented investment in Lancaster General Hospital, in terms of patient-care infrastructure, technology, and most importantly, its people,” said John J. Herman, chief executive officer, LG Health. “For many of the hundreds of patients who seek care here every day, the Trauma & Emergency Department serves as the ’front door’ to LG Health. Our hope is that this expansion will continue to improve the way we serve our community and our workforce.”
The next project milestone will come in the winter when additional rooms will open that will further expand the Emergency Department’s triage capacity.
When the expansion and renovation are fully complete in 2024, the Trauma & Emergency Department will include:
- 40,000 square feet of new space, including Central Table Eatery, the new dining experience at LGH
- A 60% increase in annual patient-visit capacity to 140,000 visits
- A 30% increase in patient rooms, from 64 to 95 beds
- Rooms dedicated to behavioral health patients and pediatric treatment
Additional trauma bays and nursing stations
“Our entire team feels a strong sense of pride working on this expansion,” said Mike Callahan, Chief Executive Officer, Benchmark Construction. “To us, this is not just a building expansion, or just another construction project. Many of us, and our families, have received care here and we are grateful to give back to a pillar of the community that has given so much to us.”