SAN LEANDRO: Hospital Will Expand Emergency Services
Officials with San Leandro Hospital have announced a $6 million expansion of the hospital's emergency room that "will allow them to better serve the community." The expansion will add an additional 13 emergency beds, bringing the hospital's total to 20. "In addition to the emergency room beds, there will also be 10 beds inside an observation unit where patients who need extended care may stay up to 12 hours," according to hospital spokesperson Aleta Walker. The Oakland Tribune reports that the "increase in the number of beds is expected to reduce waiting times, which now average about one hour and 20 minutes." San Leandro Hospital CEO Kelly Mather said, "We intend to go after the ER population ... We now serve 1,500 patients a month. We need more space because we're always full." Jane Thrush, the medical director of the emergency department, said the expansion "will allow us to provide state-of-the-art care more expeditiously than we can now." Construction will begin in July and is expected to take one year (Fong, 5/18).
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