Emergency Center Undergoes Expansion

The Harris County Hospital District has begun renovating and expanding Ben Taub Hospital’s Emergency Center to modernize the facility and improve its emergency and trauma care capacity.

The demolition of the center’s façade and exterior began Dec. 24, and will prepare the facility for the addition of 6,500 square feet.

“We have planned very carefully to ensure there is no interruption of our services during the construction,” said Terence Cunningham, Ben Taub Hospital administrator and Harris County Hospital District senior vice president. “It may look like a mess from the outside, but it will be business as usual in terms of delivering world-class emergency care.”

The first phase of the three-phase construction project will cost $2.1 million. The project will more than double the size of patient and family waiting areas; revamp the emergency center’s pharmacy, business and social work offices; triple the amount of restroom facilities; and provide a covered drive and drop-off area for emergency patients. Phase one is scheduled to be completed by September.

“We liken it to tuning a car at 60 mph,” said Cunningham. “It will be an exciting time here at Ben Taub, especially when it’s completed.”

Plans for the second and third phases of the expansion include renovation and expansion of emergency patient “shock trauma” rooms complete with CT scanner technology, renovated patient evaluation areas and a new pediatric emergency center. All three phases of the construction project are scheduled to be complete by the end of 2005.

---

©2006 Texas Medical Center

---

E-Mail: tmcinfo@texmedctr.tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/02_15_03/page_14.html