Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital recently completed an important phase in its emergency department renovations, allowing the department to see and care for more patients.
The hospital is now able to handle about 75,000 emergency room patients a year from 45,000, said Dr. John Anis, Cottage Hospital’s emergency department medical director.
He said the renovations will also improve patient care, safety, and provide a new space for treating patients with less-acute medical needs.
This area has specially designed chairs so patients who don’t need a hospital bed can be treated and discharged more quickly, while freeing beds for those with more serious illness.
In addition to the new patient care model, the renovations included a new electronic screening system for the emergency department to check for weapons and other prohibited items.
Anis said it’s a nonintrusive system, similar to those used at airports.
The final phase of the emergency department, which Anis told Noozhawk is estimated to be complete within the next nine months, will renovate the trauma ambulance bay.
The hospital’s emergency department remodel is being funded by the Reaching Higher Together Campaign, an initiative of the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital Foundation that raised $26.3 million for emergency, trauma and critical care projects.
The emergency department has been named in honor of Ben and Naomi Bollag, whose philanthropic efforts “have significantly impacted the hospital and its services,” according to Cottage Health.
“The initial reviews (of the emergency department remodel) are overwhelmingly positive from both patients and staff,” Anis said.
“It really is allowing us to continue the excellent care we have provided to the community in the last decades.”
Across West Junipero Street from the hospital, construction is underway for a medical office building, which Cottage Health spokeswoman Cristina Cortez said will include the new location of Cottage Children’s Medical Center Grotenhuis Specialty Pediatric Clinics.
“Last year, these outpatient pediatric clinics cared for nearly 13,000 children,” she said. “This new 30,000-square-foot medical office building will improve access to providers, with added capacity allowing for quicker appointment times.”
Cortez said 19 pediatric physicians will have clinics in the building, with specialties including cardiology, neurology, surgery and oncology.
She told Noozhawk that the building is anticipated to be complete in the spring of 2025.