Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa opens expanded emergency department

PHOENIX — A newly renovated and expanded emergency department (ED) is now open for those who need it at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa.

The 13,900-square-foot department opened at the hospital, located at the intersection of Southern Avenue and Dobson Road, on Wednesday, according to Banner Health, Arizona’s largest hospital system.

The healthcare organization said the expansion was needed due to rapid growth in the East Valley, which has seen about 600,000 new residents since 2006.

Banner Desert’s ED treats about 120,000 patients every year, and about 30% of them are pediatric patients.

Details of expanded emergency department at Banner Desert Medical Center

Banner Health said the department contains 9,800 square feet of renovated space, 4,100 square feet of new space and a reconfigured driveway, which will make patient access easier. There are also separate areas for children and adults.

Prior to the renovation and expansion, patients began their visit to the ED in a temporary waiting room, which was accessed through the medical center’s women’s and children’s entrance.

“What we have done is enhance the ‘front end’ process, creating two separate waiting rooms for adults and pediatric patients,” Banner Desert Medical Center CEO Laura Robertson said in a press release Thursday. “This will improve the experience, the timeliness for providing care and allow for more patient privacy.”

The children’s portion of the ED also includes:

• Two triage rooms.
• 15 treatment rooms.
• Four “quick look” rooms.
• Six “results waiting” spaces.

The area of the ED reserved for adults includes:

• Four triage rooms.
• 15 fast-track exam rooms.
• Five “quick look” rooms.
• 20 “results waiting” spaces.

Charitable donations help fund Banner Desert emergency department expansion

The project was made possible thanks to a $450,000 donation from Thunderbirds Charities and an undisclosed donation from local utility Salt River Project (SRP).

“Most of us are fathers, so the idea of a pediatric emergency unit serving these vulnerable families, it definitely tugs at our heartstrings,” Thunderbirds Big Chief Matt Mooney said.

Both the Thunderbirds and SRP took part in a ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the department last Friday, alongside Kiersten Haney and her daughter Juliet, who was recently treated in the ED before being admitted to Banner Children’s at the medical center.

“From the moment we walked in, I knew we were in good hands,” Haney said. “As a registered nurse myself, I know the amount of effort that was going on behind the scenes. And I am so grateful to all who were involved.”

Related

Banner Health opens multispecialty medical center in downtown GoodyearWest Valley hospital celebrates new wing, a major milestone in $35M expansion projectBanner Health announces groundbreaking of comprehensive medical campus in ScottsdaleBanner Desert opens clinic for maternal, fetal care at Mesa hospitalArizona joins 22-state lawsuit to block federal insurance rule that would gut ACA protectionsAbrazo Arizona Heart Hospital expands capacity to meet Arizona’s growing heart care demand