UAB to add 59 rooms to its Emergency Department

UAB is growing again. 

In the last five years, UAB hospital reported a 20% increase in demand for patients needing emergency care. Due to this percentage, UAB began short-term expansions to the Hospital Emergency Department in June

They announced this week the hospital has plans to make additional long-term expansions, which include growing the Emergency Department by 59 rooms. 

“The physical expansion of our emergency department is critically needed and vital to ensuring that UAB Hospital can continue to improve the lives and health of every patient who needs our care.”

—UAB President Ray Watts as Quoted in UAB News

What the renovations include

According to UAB News, future renovations will cost $73 million. What are the improvements?

• 59 new exam rooms
• A new three-story space in the drop-off drive of North Pavilion
• Additional imaging capacity for emergency clinical care
• Renovations to the first floor of UAB Hospital’s North Pavilion
• Converting the adjacent atrium into clinical care space

The state’s support

Governor Kay Ivey’s signing of the Historic Education Trust Fund and General Fund got the ball rolling, allotting $50 million to the project. The final step before beginning long-term construction is additional approvals by the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees.

“This significant expansion is an investment in vital public services for our state. I’m proud to support allocation of funds to help address the critical need for more emergency services and look forward to working with UAB further to make a positive impact on the welfare of our state.”

—Gov. Kay Ivey as Quoted in UAB News

The hospital expects extensive construction on UAB’s emergency room to start in 2024. 

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