L-R - Jan Gunness VP - Acute Care & Chief Nursing Officer, Ron Janzen – VP Corp Services/CFO and Kevin Davis – Construction Officer

 

If you need to go to the Emergency Room at Bethesda Hospital any time in the next 17-months, take note; the ER is now located elsewhere.

As of 8am Monday morning, the temporary ER swings into full operation on the northwest side of the hospital in the Community Services building.  Project Manager Patti Fries says officials and staff are happy this day is finally here.

"We're very excited.  There's been lots of planning going into today.  We now have a temporary emergency department that will serve us well until the new, big, redevelopment project is complete."

It's expected that construction of the Bethesda Emergency Room will take another 17 months or so.  

Moving an entire emergency facility is no small feat, and certainly could cause headaches for patients.  Fries says luckily, the temporary ER is just around the corner from the regular ER.

"The emergency room is now at 365 Reimer Avenue, at the corner of Reimer and Hanover Street.  It's the back of the hospital and just east of the back of the hospital and just east.  It is the Community Health Services Building.  People that are familiar with that, the first floor is becoming the Emergency department as of Monday."

Obviously, in an emergency situation, access is of paramount concern.  Fries says despite the fact the ER is in a different location, there is still plenty of good access, including a driveway much like the Bethesda ER.

"Current space does have provision for drop-offs, just very temporary of course.  We're also very fortunate to have about 12 parking spots in this space, along with two handicap spots.  There's also parking to the east of the building, on the other side, is another parking lot for emergency visitors as well."

Fries says there will be well marked signage all over the area to make sure people find their way to the temporary emergency dept.