PITTSBURGH – UPMC announced today that construction has begun to expand the emergency department at UPMC East, adding 14,000-square-feet of space that will more than double the capacity of the emergency department. 

“Since opening UPMC East more than six years ago, we have seen incredible growth in the number of patients we treat in our emergency department and are excited to be able to expand this area to better meet the needs of our community,” said Mark O’Hern, president of UPMC East. 

The $22 million project will add 10 new, dedicated observation rooms and 10 additional fully private emergency exam rooms, building on the current capacity of 20. Ground floor service areas in central sterile processing, clinical engineering and information technology also will be expanded. 

“We have had the opportunity to provide excellent quality care close to home every day for the residents of the eastern suburbs in and around Monroeville. As this community grows, our goal is to grow with it, expanding the world-class services our communities expect of UPMC,” said Rajesh Sehgal, M.B.B.S., M.D., F.A.C.P., vice-president, medical affairs at UPMC East.  

Emergency department services will not be disrupted during the construction. 

“Our team has invested a lot of time in planning this expansion with local EMS and our physicians to ensure the emergency department keeps running at full capacity throughout the construction and we will continue to take great care of the patients that chose UPMC East for their care,” O’Hern said.

The expanded area of the emergency department is expected to open in July 2020.