By By Steve Gillespie/The Meridian Star
July 28, 2001
Riley Hospital plans a $1.4 million upgrade to its emergency room, more than doubling the size and enabling officials to seek designation as part of the statewide trauma system.
The new emergency room will have 11 private rooms, including two major trauma rooms, a new ambulance entrance, a centralized nursing station and a new walk-in area.
Once renovation is complete, the state Department of Health will inspect the hospital to determine the level of treatment available at Riley. The agency's Division of Emergency Medical Services decides which hospitals can join the trauma system.
The trauma system is a voluntary, regional system of hospitals that collects trauma data. Riley will seek a class 4 designation, which means its emergency room will be listed as qualified to stabilize and transport major trauma patients.
Eighty-eight percent of Mississippi's hospitals with emergency rooms are part of the system.
W.G. Yates Sons Construction Co., based in Philadelphia, was awarded the contract to renovate the hospital. Work is set to start Aug. 13 and finish by late January.
The renovation will be done in stages to allow Riley to maintain full emergency room functions.
Steve Gillespie is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3233, or e-mail him at sgillespie@themeridianstar.com.