Author: Raymond Moreno, M.D., chief medical officer, Providence St. Vincent Medical Center
The emergency department at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center is the busiest in the Portland metro area, accommodating more than 80,000 visits per year. Providence St. Vincent is both the local community hospital for the west side and a destination for patients needing our specialized care in areas such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, behavioral health and pediatrics.
The existing ED space hasn’t been significantly expanded in 30 years, and Oregon’s growing and aging population has pushed the department to the limits. The growth is projected to continue, with an expected 100,000 visits annually in the next 20 years.
Wait times are long and getting longer, providers and nurses are running out of space to care for patients, ambulances sometimes must go elsewhere, and caregiver and patient safety can be a concern.
We deliver exceptional care here at Providence St. Vincent, including being named among the 2023 Top 50 hospitals in the U.S. by Healthgrades for the third consecutive year, but there are things that we want to do better and faster to better serve our community.
Features of the new ED
As we grow to serve more than 100,000 patients each year, our new emergency facility will be larger, with 84 total treatment spaces compared to 58 today. It also will be safer and smarter, designed to provide faster and more efficient care.
Two CT scanners will help eliminate bottlenecks and speed diagnoses; six private spaces will allow care to begin upon arrival; full-time visibility from the triage area will increase safety and security; state-of-the-art mobile monitors will increase patient care; a “results pending” area will be used for patients who are stable (thus freeing up beds for more critical patients); and ambulance diversions will be cut in half. In all, providers and clinical teams, including those on call, will be able to care for patients in a modern department that is safer, more efficient and more comfortable.
Growing to meet the needs of our communities
In October 2022, Providence Oregon embarked on a $45 million fundraising campaign to re-imagine emergency care at Providence St. Vincent. Led by co-chairs Andy and Nancy Bryant, this fundraising effort is a major priority for Providence Oregon and will help the hospital provide faster, better emergency care to more people.
Here’s a glance at what it’s like to work in our emergency department today, which is a testament to the daily stressors facing our excellent providers and care teams.
To donate to the ED campaign or to learn more
This project will be funded almost entirely by donors within our community, many of whom are grateful Providence St. Vincent patients. They give because of our dedicated providers, excellent and compassionate care teams, and our on-call specialist partners. Thank you for all you do.
www.ProvidenceFoundations.org/psvemergency
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