Baptist Temporarily Closes Emergency Room Parking Lot

Contact: Robby Channell, 601-968-5135 rchannell@mbhs.org

July 27, 2005 – Jackson, Miss. - On August 2, 2005, Baptist Medical Center will begin construction to expand the Emergency Room parking lot to improve parking and update the ambulance entrance. The present ER parking area will be temporarily closed to the public.

Patients coming to the ER should use the main hospital entrance for the Emergency Room Admissions area. Baptist Security personnel will help patients get to the ER and assist in parking vehicles in the Baptist garage. Baptist anticipates the new and expanded ER parking lot to be completed by October 2005.

“We are expanding the ER to create easier access and more room for acute care and express care, and now we are starting construction to enlarge the parking area in front of the hospital,” said hospital spokesman Robby Channell. “Our staff will be working diligently to assist people trying to access the ER while the parking lot is under construction.”

Last year, the Baptist Emergency Room began renovations to double its capacity. Over the past six years, patient volume has increased 35 percent.

Renovations were completed in July 2005 adding 18 additional acute care rooms, bringing the total from 12 to 30. Additionally, the ER has launched a new, patient-focused registration process called “Quick Reg.” After being triaged, a Baptist representative goes to the patient’s bedside with a portable computer to complete registration. “This improves patient throughput and sometimes allows for faster X-rays, meds, or lab results,” Channell added.

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