News release from Lutheran Hospital:
Lutheran to Build Fort Wayne’s First Freestanding ER
Popular QuickER model to be key component of 9,000-square-foot
facility at the corner of Coliseum and State(Sept. 17, 2015) – Residents of eastern Fort Wayne and Allen County who value quality, efficiency and high-level customer service when seeking emergency care will soon have the option of visiting a first-of-its-kind facility in the area. Officials from Lutheran Health Network today announced plans for the construction of Fort Wayne’s first freestanding ER at the northwest corner of Coliseum and State boulevards in Statewood Plaza.
Lutheran ER Statewood will be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and feature the same QuickER model that was introduced locally during the summer of 2011. QuickER, which has since been adopted by all Lutheran Health Network ERs in the region, tracks the average time a patient waits to be seen by a clinical professional from the moment they enter the emergency department. Wait times are communicated publically in multiple ways including digital displays on billboards and via the Web.
“Most emergency visits involve patients making a personal choice where they want to go, and thousands from the neighborhoods nearest to where Lutheran ER Statewood will be located have already demonstrated a desire to travel great lengths to receive care delivered in our network’s emergency departments,” said Brian Bauer, chief executive officer, Lutheran Health Network. “Decreasing the amount of time it takes to receive emergency care, whether that involves less time en route or less time in a waiting room, is part of our commitment to bolstering healthcare experiences for area patients.”
The site at the intersection of Coliseum and State was chosen based on the easy access it provides for area residents and businesses. Thousands of patients in the adjoining zip codes already seek care at other LHN ERs in Allen County each year. The new ER will bring the services closer to where these individuals live and work, which LHN believes will enhance convenience and safety.
“I’m encouraged by the positive momentum and excitement we’re experiencing in our City,” said Mayor Tom Henry. “Healthcare is an important sector in our local economy, and we appreciate Lutheran’s commitment to investing in our community with new jobs and expanded services as Fort Wayne continues to be a leader in economic development opportunities and job growth.”
A Lutheran EMS crew will be stationed around the clock for the rapid transport of patients deemed to be in need of hospitalization. An ambulance bay will be built and equipped to accommodate Lutheran and independent emergency medical services vehicles. Approximately 35 new positions are expected to be created in advance of Lutheran ER Statewood’s projected opening in the spring of 2016.
The 8,911-square-foot Lutheran ER Statewood project will involve the renovation of 5,380 square feet of vacant space at 3929 E. State Blvd., and 3,531 square feet of new construction built out toward Coliseum. It will include five treatment rooms, a major exam room and a decontamination room. The total investment for this project will be approximately $10 million including equipment, furnishings and a long-term lease.
Lutheran ER Statewood will include general X-ray, CT and lab services. It will share the same electronic medical records system available through Lutheran Health network, meaning history about patients who have visited other LHN facilities will be readily available. The ER will also be staffed by the same group of emergency physicians that cover all LHN hospitals in northeastern Indiana.
Architecture and design services for Lutheran ER Statewood are being handled by MKM architecture + design. The general contractor is Weigand Construction.
This is the latest in a series of Lutheran Health Network projects to expand services for patients in eastern Fort Wayne and Allen County. That list includes the addition of Lutheran Health Plaza in New Haven in 2010, and the move of 10 St. Joseph Medical Group physicians in mid-2014 from various locations to 2622 Lake Ave., which is just three minutes from Statewood Plaza. St. Joseph Medical Group offices on Lake Avenue include specialists in the fields of cardiology, family medicine, gastroenterology, internal medicine and pediatrics. Imaging and laboratory services are also available at that campus.
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