French Hospital Medical Center, located in San Luis Obispo, Calif., is building a new, expanded emergency department. The project, which will be completed in two phases, will add 8,600 square feet to the hospital. When both phases are completed, the new emergency services center will be housed in approximately 12,600 square feet of new and/or fully renovated space.

The new building will feature 18 private treatment rooms compared to the five bed ward and semi-private rooms existing today. Specialized rooms will be designated for critical care, infectious disease isolation, pediatrics and orthopedic emergencies as well as fast track beds for patients with less urgent conditions. It will also provide a sizable waiting area for families, triage rooms and a centralized nurse’s station.

Upon completion of the new facility (i.e., phase 1), the existing emergency department will be renovated to accommodate ancillary support functions, and provide imaging services specific to the needs of emergency patients (phase 2).

The new emergency department will be named the Oppenheimer Family Center for Emergency Medicine at French Hospital Medical Center. The project is expected to cost $13 million with ground breaking for the first phase expected to occur in spring 2018.