CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Tennova Healthcare – Clarksville is making improvements in its hospital ER to expand the quality and availability of emergency resources.
The company says renovations will improve wait times, patient satisfaction and safety.
Construction started in late December to prepare for expanded triage and behavioral health services.
Triage will grow from one to three private rooms and speed up the process for patients to be seen by a provider. A new dedicated area for behavioral health patients will add three private rooms and a secure common area, improving local access to these services and allowing general emergency resources to be focused elsewhere as needed.
“Tennova Healthcare – Clarksville is dedicated to expanding the quality and availability of emergency resources we offer the Montgomery County community,” Chief Executive Officer Alex Villa said. “These renovations – coupled with the construction of the satellite emergency department in Sango – are designed to address the comprehensive emergency needs of our community.”
Tennova Healthcare – Clarksville treats approximately 63,000 patients in its ER annually, and the demand for emergency services is expected to increase with the continued population growth of Montgomery County. Visits to Tennova Healthcare’s ER have risen steadily since 2010, nearly 10 percent in the last five years. Additionally, individuals with behavioral health needs increasingly seek care at the hospital as the number of other mental health resources decrease.
“For the past year, we have engaged ER staff, physicians and EMS personnel to determine what improvements will have the most significant and positive impact on our patients,” said Medical Director of Emergency Services Mark Muiznieks, MD. “After careful consideration, we determined that a faster triage process will help patients flow from the waiting room to the exam room more quickly, and dedicated behavioral health care will improve access to these underrepresented services.”
Renovations are expected to be complete this spring. Clarksville/Montgomery County-based Comperry Construction will serve as lead contractor on the project.