PeaceHealth temporarily relocates emergency department entrance

PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center has temporarily relocated its patient walk-in and ambulance entrance from Mill Plain Boulevard to Fifth Street off of Northeast 87th Avenue in Vancouver. 

The change went into effect on Aug. 2 and took place because the medical center is in the process of expanding its emergency department, a project that features a two-year construction timeline.

“We recognize the next couple of years will look different for our patients while we’re under construction,” said Jason Hanley, the emergency department medical director. “We assure you, we are fully prepared to continue meeting the emergent health care needs of our community.”

The new emergency department, which is set to open in the summer of 2024, will include:

• More patient rooms, modern amenities, and a more private healing environment with a space that is double the current size
• A model to improve patient flow, reduce wait times and increase patient satisfaction
• An updated entry with adjacent parking for improved patient and family experience
• Increased capacity and safe traffic flow for cars and ambulances

“We look forward to our new state of the art emergency department. Its upgraded and expanded space will better meet the needs of our patients and their families we serve each day,” Hanley said. 

For more information on the project, go online to peace health.org/swedexpansion.