UAB Hospital Begins Emergency Department Expansion

Temporary expansions started in June 2023, while long-term expansions are expected to begin in 2024.

By HFT Staff


The University of Alabama at Birmingham will begin temporary and long-term expansions of the UAB Hospital University Emergency Department, as unprecedented demand for emergency medical services continues to grow and exceed capacity.  

UAB Hospital has seen 20 percent UED patient volume growth in the last five years and expects more patient volume growth in the next five years.  

Temporary expansion renovations began in June 2023 with interior construction allocated to North Pavilion space, which will create nine new exam rooms and temporary waiting room space. In August 2023, UAB Hospital will begin installation of two leased mobile treatment units that will be located outside of UED along 18th Avenue South. The units will provide 16 additional treatment spaces for patient care and are anticipated to begin use in early fall. 

The long-term plans for the $73 million expansion of UED will include renovations to the first floor of UAB Hospital’s North Pavilion, turning the adjacent atrium into clinical care space and the construction of a new three-story space in the drop-off drive of North Pavilion. With 66,030 new square feet of construction anticipated, the project will provide 59 new exam rooms and additional imaging capacity for emergency clinical care. 

With Gov. Kay Ivey signing into law Alabama’s largest education and General Fund budgets, $50 million in funds has been allocated from the State of Alabama to support the long-term expansion of UED; that expansion has received Stage 1 approval from the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees, with additional approvals needed. 

Both projects will expand the volume of space available for patient care. Added capacity will also improve wait times, patient satisfaction and staff satisfaction and will allow for new operational models to be developed and implemented.   

In addition to addressing current and predicted increases in patient volume, UED expansion will help UAB keep pace with the complexity of care needed; UAB’s status as the only American College of Surgeons-recognized Level I trauma center in the state means it cares for the most sick, critical and vulnerable patients in Alabama.   

Pending additional approvals by the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees, it is anticipated construction on UED long-term expansion will begin in 2024. 



July 13, 2023


Topic Area: Construction


Recent Posts

The Double-Edged Sword of AI in Healthcare Cybersecurity

The use of AI could be beneficial, but some may misuse the technology.


Third-Party Vendors and Networks Pose Risks for Healthcare Cybersecurity

Collaboration and intelligence sharing are crucial actions to take to defend against cyberattacks, including ones linked to third parties.


Community Health Network and Lifepoint Behavioral Health Form Joint Venture

The partners anticipate building two new 120-bed hospitals in the greater Indianapolis area.


PAM Health Reveals Plans to Build 42-bed Rehab Hospital in Florida

The new hospital will create approximately 80 new jobs including medical professional and support staff positions.


When Product Labels and Regulatory Guidelines Clash

A huge gap exists between government registration protocols for disinfectants and processing an emergency department trauma room.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.