Emergency Care Center Expansion

Expansion Planned for Covenant Emergency Care Center

On May 2 at 9:30am, Covenant HealthCare hosted a ground breaking ceremony for expansion to the Emergency Care Center. In 2001, the existing facility opened with the anticipation of accommodating roughly 60,000 patient visits per year. The Covenant Emergency Care Center volumes have continued to rise over the past five years and in 2012, the Emergency Care Center cared for more than 85,000 patient visits. The existing building is 34,715 square feet and the $6.5 million expansion will add 11,456 square feet allowing more efficient triage, enhanced patient waiting areas, and additional space for current technology.  This addition will add 18 treatment bays to the existing 47 and will also house a dedicated CT scanner and mini-laboratory within the department.

With more than 40 board certified and/or residency trained emergency medicine physicians, 150 nurses and nursing assistants, all are highly trained emergency medicine staff available to care for patients 365 days per year, 24 hours per day. Ancillary staff, including physician scribes, dedicated ER x-ray technicians, ER phlebotomist and social workers, are all part of the team that provides high quality care in response to the community’s medical needs.

As the Great Lakes Bay Region’s only Level II Trauma Center for Adults and Pediatrics, Covenant staff and medical professionals are prepared for everything from major trauma to minor accidents and illnesses.  We are proud to be able to serve the medical needs of children in our area as one of only six Pediatric Trauma Centers in the State of Michigan. In partnership with LifeNet of Michigan, Covenant also offers air transportation services to hospitals across mid-Michigan, the “thumb” region, and lower northern Michigan.

The project is expected to be completed in spring of 2014.

Speakers at Thursday’s event included Spence Maidlow, President and CEO of Covenant HealthCare, and Dr. Brian Purchase, Medical Director for the Covenant Emergency Care Center.

For additional details or renderings, please contact Covenant Public Relations Specialist, Kristin Knoll.