Trinity’s new Heart Center and Emergency Department has opened as planned.
The old emergency room was closed down 8 a.m. Sunday, April 19, 2015, and staff began moving patients to the new facility.
The new emergency department area is four times bigger than the old one. It includes trauma, short-stay, exam, and radiology rooms as well as offers new cardiac treatment areas, non-invasive treatment areas, a cath lab, and a cardiac rehabilitation center.
This was the largest expansion in the history of the facility. The $61.3 million project broke ground in June of 2013.
“[The new facility] is designed to improve patient safety and privacy, better coordinate care, reduce operational costs and accommodate increased demand,” according to a statement from UnityPoint Health.
UnityPoint Health funded the project, along with the Trinity Health Foundation, which raised $6.75 million to support the new Emergency Department and Heart Center.
A local couple, Lawrence and Marilyn Matteson, donated $1 million to the facility. Another significant donation was from Trinity Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul McLoone and his wife, Susan. They helped raise more than $57,000.
