Contact: media@bannerhealth.com
FALLON, Nev. (June 13, 2018) – Fallon Mayor Ken Tedford joined Banner Churchill Community Hospital employees and community members in cutting the ribbon Wednesday on the hospital’s new Emergency department addition, a project that is anticipated to significantly reduce wait times for care and enhance patient privacy.
"This is a very impressive addition that will not only benefit emergency department staff, but our community as well," said Mayor Tedford.
Approximately 250 people attended the ribbon cutting ceremony, which took place just outside the entrance to the new Emergency department (ED) at Banner Churchill, 801 E. Williams in Fallon, Nev. Following a brief formal program, attendees had the opportunity to tour the new ED space.
The ED expansion and renovation project, which represents a $10 million investment into the hospital by non-profit Banner Health, broke ground in August 2017 and is anticipated to be fully completed by the end of the year.
Wednesday’s ceremony marked the completion of the project’s first – and most significant – phase. This phase was highlighted by a new 5,545-square-foot addition onto the existing 4,848-square-foot ED. The new addition opens to patients on June 21.
With the additional square footage, the number of emergency beds increases to 16 beds from 10 previously. Rooms are also much bigger, growing by as much as 43 percent to 120 square feet each.
“In front of you stands what we have anxiously been awaiting a long time,” Banner Churchill CEO Rob Carnahan told those attending the ceremony. “If you have received care in the ED you probably noticed the space challenges we've endured up to now.”
Last year, the hospital’s Emergency Department treated more than 19,000 patients.
In addition to more beds and larger patient rooms, the ED expansion project allowed the hospital to create a larger waiting room and triage (medical screening) area inside the ED, and to add a centralized work station for nurses and providers so they can more easily monitor patients and coordinate care.
Of the 16 patient rooms, 14 are fully-private exam rooms featuring 20” televisions. The remaining two rooms are 400-square-foot major treatment bays for patients with serious injuries or illnesses. There is also a room with an electrocardiogram (EKG) to serve patients suffering from a heart attack.
“This new space mirrors our vision to provide exceptional care in a modern care environment for our families, our friends, our neighbors and our patients,” Carnahan told attendees. “Being part of this community, we want you to be as proud as we are of Banner Churchill Community Hospital.”
Once the new space opens on June 21, crews will complete work on the second phase of the project: renovating the existing ED, which remained open to patients as the addition was built. Some of the Phase 2 work, including a larger waiting room and medical screening area, has already been completed, but other work remains, including converting former patient rooms into much-needed storage and office space areas. It’s anticipated this work will be completed by year end.
About Banner Churchill Community Hospital
Banner Churchill opened in 1996 and is a part of Banner Health, a nonprofit health care system with 28 hospitals in six states. It offers acute and primary care, including comprehensive emergency care with an ambulance service that covers more than 5,900 square miles. For more information, visit BannerHealth.com/Churchill or visit them on FaceBook at facebook.com/BannerChurchillCommunityHospital.