Earlier this year the new Franciscan Health Olympia Fields Emergency Department opened with increased space for patients in anticipation of the closure of the emergency room at Franciscan Health Chicago Heights. The new emergency department includes 32 treatment rooms with six being minor care beds for treating those with illness or injury of minor acuity, two trauma rooms, three nurse stations and a modern and spacious waiting room.
Earlier this year the new Franciscan Health Olympia Fields Emergency Department opened with increased space for patients in anticipation of the closure of the emergency room at Franciscan Health Chicago Heights.
The new emergency department includes 32 treatment rooms with six being minor care beds for treating those with illness or injury of minor acuity, two trauma rooms, three nurse stations and a modern and spacious waiting room. It also includes an expanded EMS room, resupply closet and EMS tracking board near the ambulance dock.
“We opened our expanded emergency room in Olympia Fields in February and we’re seeing a much greater capacity and seeing more patients than we ever have,” said Maria Ramos, vice president of Marketing and Public Relations Franciscan Health Olympia Fields. “We are certainly prepared to handle the influx of expected patients once we close the emergency room in Chicago Heights.”
Emergency room services at the Chicago Heights campus, located in the former St. James Hospital, are expected to cease by the end of August pending approval of components of the Olympia Fields expansion by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
“The timeframe is contingent upon review by the IDPH,” Ramos said.
In addition to the expanded emergency room in Olympia Fields, a new urgent care facility will open immediately following the ER closing in the professional office building at 30 E. 15th Street directly across the street from the Chicago Heights hospital’s main entrance.
“There will be no gap in 24/7 care in Chicago Heights,” said Ramos. “Once the Chicago Heights ER closes, we have a brand new 24/7 urgent care that is just across the street that will be open upon the closure of the ER. Many people use the emergency room for care that could be done in an urgent care setting, so the facility will be an appropriate level of care for many cases that already come into the ER. That’s the real good news story. There will be no gap in care for non-emergent cases.”
Other preparations in Olympia Fields have included a clinical decision unit, which opened in early August.
“It is designed for care of patients coming into the ER who need further observation, but won’t be admitted. Those patients can be moved for those hours of observation, freeing up beds in the ER,” said Ramos.
She noted that other inpatient spaces and a conversion to all private rooms are also part of the overall expansion project. A birthing center and inpatient rehabilitation unit will be located in a new inpatient pavilion, bringing those two new services to Olympia Fields.
The Franciscan Health Emergency Department is staffed by board-certified emergency physicians, who have received comprehensive, specialized training in all phases of emergency medical care. It is also staffed by trauma nurse specialists with certifications in basic life support, advanced cardiovascular life support and pediatric advanced life support.
