The project focused on three primary goals:
• Expand and modernize Emergency Services
• Relocate the Critical Care Unit and Medical/Surgical Unit
• Create a safe, healing environment for behavioral health patients
The new Emergency Department includes 16 treatment rooms, with six specifically designed for behavioral health. While emergency departments aren’t required to meet full inpatient psychiatric standards, every space accessible to behavioral health patients was carefully planned with safety and dignity in mind.
The six behavioral health rooms are positioned around a dedicated nursing station for direct visibility and continuous staff oversight. Medical gases and headwall equipment are concealed behind drop-down overhead panels and accessed only when needed, minimizing risk. The rooms eliminate ligature points, and doors swing outward to prevent barricading.
Additional safety and healing features include anti-ligature, tamper-resistant lighting and diffusers, as well as clerestory windows made from impact-resistant polycarbonate glazing to introduce natural light and support a therapeutic atmosphere.