In September 2006, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center greatly enhanced its
emergency and trauma care services. In fact, the  Emergency Department and Trauma
Center, named after Del E. Webb, more than doubled in size when they moved into the first floor
of the new Barrow Neuroscience Tower.

The new Emergency Department (ED) and Trauma Center features:

• Six trauma bays with cutting-edge technology, including overhead X-ray machines
  and supply booms.
•  Forty-eight emergency bays. All the rooms in the ED are equipped for patients of any acuity.
• An area dedicated solely to the treatment of pediatric patients. Eight treatment bays
  and a waiting area have been specially designed for children and separated from the
  adult treatment and waiting areas.

 

• A three-bed fast-track ED station, which will have its own waiting area. The goal of
  this area will be to treat patients with minor injuries in less than an hour.
• A family consultation room.
• A family viewing room.
• A special area for computed tomography and radiology. This area contains two new
  64-slice CT scanners. These will facilitate quicker and clearer images of patients.
• A new ambulance entrance, walk-in entrance and expanded waiting area.
• A new heliport, which is located on top of the Barrow Neuroscience Tower. 
   
  

The need for ED and trauma services is growing dramatically. Last year, St. Joseph's had 62,225 Emergency Department visits, an average of 170 patients a day. Use of the hospital's trauma services is increasing 10 percent annually. Last year, St. Joseph's Trauma Center treated 4,250 trauma patients. The new entrance is located on the west side of Third Avenue between Thomas Road and Earll Drive.