The Mary Greeley Medical Center Emergency Department patient area will undergo a major facelift for the first time in nearly 20 years.

According to a recent press release, the emergency room is being remodeled in part because the volume of visits has increased by 2,000 patients between the years 1992-1996.

The first phase of the project began on Nov. 17 and will progress through Feburary 1999, according to Marilyn Polito, Mary Greeley’s emergency room director.

The crowding of the emergency room waiting area and shortage of patient treatment rooms are two of the most frequently voiced patient concerns, as well as lack of privacy due to double-patient rooms.

“The remodeling project allows for more spacious waiting rooms divided into comfortable seating areas with natural light from windows along Duff Avenue and a more private registration area,” Polito said.

In addition, the new area will provide private rooms for the more critical patients and a separate waiting room for families of those patients.

“We are increasing the number of patient rooms in the emergency room, and we are also increasing our waiting space,” Polito said.

This will provide quality care for emergency and non-emergency patients,” she added.

Construction on the project should be finished by early 1999, Polito said.

“Because there is going to be construction around working areas, the different phases of the project will take time to finish,” she said.

To help visitors and patients find their way around the construction, individuals will be re-routed, but those entering the emergency room will be assisted by staff with directions to other clinical areas within the main hospital.

In addition, visits to the hospital after 8 p.m. will now be routed outside of the patient hallways, adding to the privacy of patients and families in the emergency room, Polito said.