Ascension St. Marys preparing to open new Emergency Care Center to public – MLive.com

SAGINAW, MI - Ascension St. Marys Hospital of Saginaw announced that it is planning to open the doors to its brand new Emergency Care Center addition at its 800 S. Washington Ave. location in early January.

The new addition is a part of a six-phase $17.6 million expansion, which began after Ascension St. Marys broke ground on the project in fall 2019. The entire project is on track to be completed in fall of 2021.

MLive - The Saginaw News previously reported that the first phase of project required the relocation of St. Marys dialysis unit from the emergency department area. Those services are now provided in a dedicated dialysis area.

Phase two was recently completed, which included the the construction of a 12,600-square feet addition, renovating existing space, infrastructure improvements for electrical, heating, ventilation and information technology systems, and improving access for ambulances and the public. The newly constructed addition provides patients with an airport style drop-off/pick up and continuous drop-off canopy for inclement weather.

As part of the planning work, we identified that a new emergency entry for ambulances and the public was a top priority. Significant excavation and construction to reduce the gradient to the Emergency Department has taken place to create a safer entryway for ambulances and our community, said Stephanie Duggan, MD, Regional President, Ascension St. Marys.

The enhancements will transform the facility into a level II trauma care center with 24 exam/treatment rooms and two trauma rooms, according to Ascension, and boost the hospitals ability to provide stroke care as a Comprehensive Stroke Center.

Individuals coming to the new Emergency Care Center will also find a new registration and triage area which will improve patient flow and increase capacity and efficiency and a larger waiting area, according to Ascension. Ambulances will also have a new multiple parking bays to utilize.

We are very excited and looking forward to opening the new addition and ambulance bays, said Duggan.

The next phases of the project will involve renovating the existing emergency department space to create new, larger exam rooms and trauma suites. The work will continue to be staged so there is no disruption of services, according to Ascension. Emergency and trauma care will continue to be provided through the existing emergency care in downtown Saginaw and at Ascension St. Marys freestanding emergency care center located in Saginaw Township, at 4599 Towne Centre Blvd., at the corner of Towne Centre and Schust. Both locations are open 24/7.