CoxHealth breaks ground on emergency department

CoxHealth broke ground today on its new $52.5 million emergency department.

The 78,000-square-foot facility will more than double the department's bed capacity to 62. Also included in the addition are four dedicated adult trauma bays, one pediatric trauma bay, a 26-bed cardiac monitored observation unit, a full radiology suite, a mini laboratory staffed round the clock, dedicated pharmacy space and two psychiatric safe rooms.

The project is paid for by a combination of bonds issued in September and a "major donation" from Jack and Cathryn Cox Lipscomb and Larry and Tracy Lipscomb. The emergency department, to be housed in the new Lipscomb Family Wing of Cox South, is being designed and built by Beck/Walton, a joint venture of Walton Construction Co. and The Beck Group. Construction is slated for completion in August 2010.

"We are excited to usher in this new era in emergency medicine for southwest Missouri," CoxHealth President and CEO Robert Bezanson said in a news release. "This emergency department was designed with staff input to create a better work environment for them and to enhance our patients' experiences."

The health system also announced a fundraising campaign to raise money to fund patient needs associated with the new facility.[[In-content Ad]]