Southern Ocean Medical Center Debuts New Emergency Department

Southern Ocean Medical Center officials recently unveiled a new emergency room department that more than triples the size of the former 8,800-square foot facility.

The new emergency room has 29,000 square feet and 42 large private bays for patients, 8,800 square feet, said medical center President Joseph P. Coyle.

“Our new Emergency Department is the largest building project in the history of the medical center and emergency care for the Southern Ocean community is being raised to a new level,” Coyle said shortly after the recent ribbon-cutting ceremony. "It is a magnificent facility with beautiful new space providing spacious rooms and improved comfort and services for our patients and their families."

The new department also includes a discreet, separate and secure area for behavioral health patients and the family-friendly Martin Truex Jr. Pediatric Care Center, for children recovering from surgery, as well as routine ER care

Expanded triage and fast track areas will help doctors and nurses provide better care and better service, hospital officials said.

“This new facility is going to improve the ED experience for patients and family members as well as for the doctors and nurses who deliver care here,” says Adam Lazarus, M.D., chief of emergency medicine at Southern Ocean. 

Southern Ocean Medical Center's ER handled more than 40,000 patients in 2012, more then double the number it was designed to support. Hospital officials expect that number to grow to 46,000 by next year and 55,000 by 2020.

“Despite the challenging times in the health care industry, I’m extremely grateful for the support of our board members and our donors that allow these types of expansions to continue,” says John K. Lloyd, president and CEO of Meridian Health. “The vision we had for Southern Ocean’s Emergency Department is now a reality and the outcome is phenomenal.”