Adventist GlenOaks Hospital's spacious new Emergency Department (ED) opened to the public June 13, taking whole-person care to a new level.

With no waiting room, patients and their families are immediately escorted into one of 19 private treatment suites upon arrival. Family members are encouraged to take part in the treatment process, and registration takes place at the bedside.

"We're introducing a different kind of emergency care," said Brinsley Lewis, Adventist GlenOaks Hospital CEO. "It's quicker, quality care in a comfortable environment for patients and their families."

By creating an environment that evokes patient-centered care, Christ's healing ministry will be felt through the hands of the physicians, nurses, and staff who deliver outstanding care.

"This new Emergency Department is a tangible extension of our core values," stated David Crane, president and CEO, Adventist Midwest Health. "As a Christian health care provider, we are committed to providing whole-person care and to promoting wellness with our patients and throughout the community."

More than 300 guests attended a special ribbon-cutting ceremony just days before the new ED opened. The celebration had special meaning for Joseph Shanahan, M.D., medical director, Emergency Services. Shanahan has been with the hospital since it opened in 1981, and he, with many others, had a vision for a larger, more efficient ED.

"There's a saying that says, ‘You never get a second chance to make a first impression,'" Shanahan said. "This epitomizes our goal. Those first few minutes when a patient walks in to the ED are not only critical from a medical standpoint, but they are critical to making sure patients feel at ease. This new ED aims to make thousands of great first impressions followed by positive medical outcomes each year."

"Every detail, from the use of natural light to the color schemes, was designed for the comfort [of] patients and their families, as well as physicians, nurses, and staff," Shanahan added.

Outside the ED is a large, covered ambulance bay, where flags represent the paramedic and ambulance providers who bring patients to the hospital. Improvements for EMS providers include private lockers for emergency supplies and a decontamination area with showers in the ambulance bay.

"We're pleased to be able to give our EMS and first responders some of the amenities that will make their job of saving lives easier," Lewis remarked.

"Focusing on whole-person care allows staff to treat patients as people, not just medical cases," Crane emphasized.

"At Adventist hospitals, we're dedicated to our mission of providing high-quality care to every patient, whether they walk in with a common cold or a heart attack," Crane said. "These new walls at Adventist GlenOaks Hospital and the people within them will continue this mission of compassion."

Julie Busch, public relations specialist, Adventist Midwest Health