The emergency department in the Mountain View Hospital in Payson, Ariz., was recently expanded to more than 10,000 square feet, up from less than 5,000, according to an article on the Herald Extra website.
Doorways can now electronically lock for greater security and there is a fast track for patients with less severe conditions. One area is dedicated to pediatric patients, the article said.
The construction was accomplished in phases. Initially, the hospital shut down two trauma bays and three exam rooms, left to operate with about seven total rooms. That first phase took about four months.
There is now a dedicated isolation room for patients who have an infectious disease. It has negative airflow and its own bathroom.
The communications systems has also been upgraded with alarms to improve nurse-to-nurse communication and provide modern alerts for disasters and disruptions. There is also a larger bereavement room.
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