A major expansion of Saint Francis Medical Center's Gene E. Huckstep Emergency Center/Level III Trauma Center will begin with a groundbreaking ceremony July 23 at 5:30 pm. The ceremony will be held near the current emergency and trauma center entrance. Individuals wishing to attend the ceremony should contact the Saint Francis Marketing and Public Relations Department at 573-331-5877.

Construction will take place in two phases; phase I, which will involve the building of the new space, will begin in August; phase II, which will involve the renovation of the existing space, is expected to begin in the summer of 2009. During all phases of construction, patients will continue to have access to the high-quality emergency and trauma care they expect at Saint Francis.

During construction, entrances to the emergency and trauma center will be relocated. Beginning Aug. 19, patients and visitors will enter the Medical Center through a newly constructed walk-in entrance located approximately 30 yards east of the existing entrance, between the Saint Francis Occupational Medicine Clinic and the emergency and trauma center. This entrance will lead to the temporary waiting area for the emergency and trauma center. Entrances and parking will be clearly marked, and a greeter will be stationed at the new walk-in entrance to assist in directing patients and visitors. Patient parking will continue to be available in the Healing Arts Center Parking Garage and to the east of the helicopter pads.

As the region's only Level III Trauma Center, Saint Francis sees traumatic injuries and serves medical conditions as well as patients seeking care for common coughs and colds. As a result, the Medical Center has seen increased patient volumes and longer patient wait times, as well as crowded waiting rooms.

In addition to nearly tripling the size of the emergency and trauma center, this expansion will bring many improvements to the emergency and trauma care provided at Saint Francis, including 26 new private rooms, most with direct access to bathrooms; three internal waiting rooms to keep families close to loved ones; a redesigned entry and lobby will give patients direct access to a triage nurse upon arrival; expanded x-ray capabilities; a universal-room design for greater flexibility in patient care; and shorter patient wait times.

Thank you for your patience during this time of transition. For more information, call Saint Francis at 573-331-5877 or visit www.MoreForYou.md.