Article Category: Newsroom

Wellstar Kennestone's New Emergency Department is Now Open

Published on July 20, 2020

Last updated 11:30 PM August 20, 2020

Wellstar Kennestone Hospital's New Emergency Department

At Wellstar, not one patient, symptom or treatment plan is the same—even in an emergency. Now, the new, state-of-the-art emergency department (ED) at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center delivers quality and compassionate care to every patient, every time.

Located just north of metro Atlanta, this 263,000 sq. ft. medical facility is one of the largest and busiest EDs in the nation and:

It is one of only three Level II trauma centers in metro Atlanta.
Increased its bed-count from 84 to 166 beds (130 universal beds and 36 transition beds).
It is one of four Joint Commission Comprehensive Stroke Centers in Georgia.
It is the only Joint Commission Certified Comprehensive Cardiac Center in the state and seventh in the nation.
Can treat more than 600 patients a day—nearly doubling its previous capacity—with up to 220,000 patient visits per year.
It has 170 parking spaces for patients on the street level, accessible from Cherokee Street.

At Wellstar, we make an impact on the lives of real people every day. The emergency department at Wellstar Kennestone is the next step in providing world-class care for the people and the communities we serve.

Tour Kennestone's Emergency Department

Designed with Care in Mind

From top to bottom, the new Kennestone ED offers emergent care for patients and families, at every age and stage of life.

The design provides benefits for patient care, including rapid access to treatment, an innovative, family-centered functional layout, and new processes and procedures based on best practices to reduce wait times, expedite discharges and enhance patient experiences.

The facility is also built with separate care zones based on medical service, level of care and age—all to better meet our patients’ needs.

Some unique features of the ED include:

Pediatrics

The full-service, 16-room pediatric area includes a sick and injured lobby, pediatric imaging suite, isolation and behavioral health capability. A separate designated ambulance and ambulatory entrances limit children’s exposure to adult trauma patients and infection.

Behavioral Health

On the second floor, a preferred, 12-bed zone provides a safe space for specialized behavior and crisis intervention. This area includes an activity room for patients to socialize, eat meals and perform activities.

Transition Area

Universal treatment rooms provide the capacity to best care for our patients. With 60 percent of hospital admissions coming from the ED, a transitional area for patients awaiting admission helps improve patient care and experiences.

Patients will have admission databases completed, admission orders written, and care continued as they transition to the appropriate inpatient unit.

Trauma/High Acuity

The ED features a separate trauma/high acuity ambulance entrance. The area includes RSve designated trauma rooms (with three rooms having direct access to CT imaging) and seven designated high acuity rooms (with two rooms having patient ceiling lifts).

Compassionate Care

After the loss of a loved one, Wellstar recognizes a family’s need for grieving. Two private viewing areas allow families to spend time with loved ones after they pass away.

PeopleCare when it counts

When it comes to emergency care, every second matters.

From top to bottom, the new ED is built to save lives. The innovative layout includes separate care zones based on medical service, level of care and age, allowing us to treat patients faster. We even have a full-service pediatric area so our littlest patients can receive specialized, kid-friendly care.

Since its opening on July 23, 2020, the Wellstar Kennestone ED has:

Served 104,980 of our family, friends and neighbors in the community.
Treated 10,759 pediatric patients, who can get back to being kids again.
Performed 319 emergency surgeries with advanced, life-saving technology.
Landed 244 helicopters, which flew patients in for fast, expert treatment.

While those may be a lot of statistics, Wellstar never treats people like a number. With the ED’s high-tech capabilities and smart design, our medical experts can still personalize care even amid a life-threatening situation.

So, whether you or a family member experiences a traumatic injury or sudden medical emergency like a heart attack or stroke, the Wellstar Kennestone ED offers quick, effective emergency care close to home.

Care during COVID-19 & moving forward

Emergencies don’t stop — even during a pandemic. When the Wellstar Kennestone ED opened during the height of the COVID-19 outbreak, Georgians still needed to find safe emergency care.

We’ve added new infection prevention protocols into our already thorough safety routines, ensuring our medical experts can provide safe, life-saving care every day. In uncertain times, people count on Wellstar for expert trauma and emergency care.

Today, the Wellstar Kennestone ED is continuing to protect the people and communities we serve. From emergency surgery to expert trauma care to behavioral health services, we make sure people can get the emergency care they need without going far.

Learn more about the Wellstar Kennestone ED and how we are making a difference in Georgia.

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