Beacon Kalamazoo transforms emergency department experience
Beacon Kalamazoo has completed a $3.5 million emergency department renovation, creating a welcoming, patient-centered environment designed to improve efficiency, reduce wait times and enhance the overall care experience.
Patients will notice right away that the renovated space is bright, modern and inviting. Improved signage and an open line of sight to the registration area provide clarity and ease from the moment of arrival. Central to the renovation is a dual-pathway care model that allows our team to simultaneously care for critically ill patients and those with minor illnesses or injuries.
“As a locally governed nonprofit health system, every decision we make and every dollar we invest is guided by our commitment to our patients and our community,” said Carl Risk, President of Beacon Kalamazoo. “This renovation reflects that promise and our dedication to bringing compassionate, high-quality emergency care to Kalamazoo and southwest Michigan residents.”
An experienced nurse greets every patient, conducts a brief assessment and directs them to the appropriate level of care. Patients requiring immediate intervention for critical conditions such as heart attacks, strokes or major trauma are directed to one care pathway. Those with minor illnesses and injuries receive care in a lower-acuity area with a dedicated results-pending space separate from the main emergency department. Patients can be discharged directly from that area once lab work or imaging is complete.
“Emergency care is inherently unpredictable, but our updated physical layout has created more efficient processes that are key to significantly improving wait times and safely caring for more patients,” said Dr. Mark Miller, Chief of Emergency Medicine, Beacon Kalamazoo. “Our goal is to ensure every patient is confident they are in the right place for outstanding care.”
Years in the making, the renovation reflects how dramatically emergency medicine has evolved. Emergency departments are busier than they were originally built to handle, and the dual-pathway model at Beacon Kalamazoo is increasingly being adopted by larger medical centers nationwide.
As a Level II Trauma Center, Beacon Kalamazoo provides comprehensive emergency and trauma care around the clock working in collaborative partnership with southwest Michigan EMS providers to ensure seamless, coordinated care from the moment a patient calls for help. This renovation – the first major investment since Beacon Health System completed the acquisition of the former Borgess Hospital last summer – was made possible through funding from the Beacon Health Foundation Kalamazoo, which honors the legacy of the Burton H. Upjohn Emergency Department, dedicated in 2011.
