After a year of construction, New Hanover Regional Medical Center opened its doors this week on the first phase of its emergency department expansion.
 
The new reception area, Patient Assistance Center and additional rooms for patients and staff opened Wednesday.
 
By the spring of 2017, when the project is finished, New Hanover Regional expects to double the size and capacity of its emergency department – from 17,800 square feet to 48,000 square feet.
 
At the beginning of the construction at the hospital’s main campus on 17th Street, the emergency department had 54 patient rooms. This phase of the expansion has increased that number to 60, plus an additional 20 private rooms for patients awaiting results, hospital officials said. Once the project is complete next year, NHRMC will offer a total of 107 patient spaces in the emergency department.
 
After the $24.7 million upgrade, the new wing will escalate the department’s capacity to 104,000 patients – a significant increase from its previous capacity of 80,000 patients, hospital officials said.
 
“Our expansion and renovation is not complete, but this phase will open up many new spaces for our visitors, and they’ll get a real sense of what the new emergency department has to offer,” Christy Spivey, NHRMC administrator of emergency services, said in a news release.
 
NHMRC also plans to further accommodate the family and guests of patients with a new reception area. Named in honor of donors Bill and Debbie Rudisill, the expanded waiting area features natural light, television, Wi-Fi, a separate children’s area and easy access to the café, Au Bon Pain.
 
For pediatric patients, the renovated area boasts six, colorful private rooms specifically equipped with child-friendly gaming stations funded by Rodgers Builders Inc., the builder on the expansion project.
 
A new parking lot and entrance for the facility are still under construction but are expected to open in July.