This transformative project marks a significant milestone in providing exceptional emergency, specialty and subspecialty care for critically ill patients within the community.
The expanded emergency department at UC Medical Center will meet the growing demands of the region for Level I trauma and emergency care. The project will not only expand the capacity of the ED but also enhance patient flow for more efficient and streamlined emergency care. The new emergency department is scheduled to begin operations on Sunday, July 9, 2023 at 7 a.m. At that time, renovations will begin on the existing 35,000-square-foot ED, which has served the community for over three decades.
“The expansion of UC Medical Center's emergency department represents a significant milestone in our mission to provide exceptional care to the critically ill patients in our community,” said Rob Wiehe, Chief Operations Officer for Hospital Operations at UC Health. “This transformative project showcases our commitment to innovation and meeting the growing demands of the region.”
The ED expansion and renovation initiative are integral components of UC Health’s groundbreaking $221 million Clifton Campus Revitalization project announced in October 2019. Spanning 14 acres in Cincinnati's vibrant Uptown district, UC Health's Clifton Campus has undergone a major transformation over the past four years. Projects have included the renovation of UC Medical Center’s front entrance, construction of a new surgical building, and now, the construction of a new emergency department.
Monday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony featured a memorable moment as the UC Health Mobile Stroke Unit drove through a banner, capturing the spirit of progress and innovation. Attendees had the opportunity to witness this historic event from the new Ambulance canopy, designed to accommodate up to nine ambulances. Additionally, the canopy houses a dedicated decontamination area, benefiting both patients and employees who may have encountered hazardous substances in an emergency situation.
Beyond exceptional patient care, UC Health's emergency medicine program has gained national recognition for its research and teaching endeavors. The UC Department of Emergency Medicine is home to the first residency training program in the United States and attracts top medical students nationwide to undergo training in Cincinnati. The department's esteemed faculty members are national leaders in clinical teaching and research, further solidifying UC Health's status in the field.
“With state-of-the-art facilities and a focus on efficiency, we aim to ensure uninterrupted patient care while enhancing the overall experience,” said Arthur M. Pancioli, MD, Richard C. Levy Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at the UC College of Medicine and a UC Health physician. “We are proud to lead the way in emergency medicine, attracting top talent and gaining national recognition for our research and teaching endeavors. As we embark on this new chapter, we continue to pave the way regionally and nationally, reaffirming our dedication to world-class care and a healing environment.”
The newly expanded UC Medical Center ED will not only increase capacity and patient flow but will also feature notable improvements, including reconfigured access for ambulances and vehicles, four spacious shock resection units (SRUs), twice the size of the existing SRUs, six dedicated behavioral health rooms, and ten well-equipped nursing stations.
The global firm CannonDesign oversaw project design and Cincinnati-based Messer Construction Co. managed construction of the project. Ohio-based HPlex Solutions served as the owner’s representative to manage the project. Subcontractors on the project included TJ Dyer, Denier Electric, Nelson Stark, O'Rourke, Valley Interiors, AGM, Heapy Engineering, and THP.
UC Health remains dedicated to delivering exceptional care, driving innovation, and establishing new benchmarks in healthcare excellence. With the unveiling of the expanded emergency department, UC Medical Center is poised to continue its legacy as a leader in providing outstanding emergency medical services to the Greater Cincinnati community and beyond.
UC Medical Center’s state-of-the-art emergency department was made possible through the generosity of our local community, through a philanthropic campaign launched in 2019. Lead funding included a $1.5 million investment from TQL president Kerry Byrne and his wife Melissa, and a $250,000 pledge from Fifth Third Bancorp and Fifth Third Foundation, led by CEO Greg Carmichael.
Uptown Consortium, Inc., supported UC Health in the expansion and renovation of its emergency department through a $3.9 million New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) allocation. Uptown Consortium utilizes Federal NMTCs to revitalize Uptown Cincinnati, investing in the most impactful projects possible, and joined Ohio Community Development Finance Fund, The Community Builders, and CapOne, N.A. that supported the emergency department with allocations in the 2022 cycle.