UPMC East Emergency Department Doubles Capacity

PITTSBURGH – To address the increasing number of patients seeking high-quality emergency care at UPMC East, the hospital has expanded its emergency department, more than doubling its capacity. The hospital will begin seeing patients in the new space beginning August 24.

“Since opening UPMC East eight years ago, we have expanded comprehensive services like heart and vascular, orthopaedic and oncology care and have seen continual growth in the number of patients seeking care in our emergency department,” said Mark O’Hern, president of UPMC East. “By expanding this area, we are able to better meet the needs of our community, improving access and significantly reducing wait times for our emergency patients.”

The $24 million expansion and renovation began in April 2019 and adds approximately 30,000 square feet to the UPMC East campus, increasing private emergency exam rooms from 24 to 44, with 10 dedicated as observation beds for short stay patients. Ground floor service areas in central sterile processing, clinical engineering and information technology also have been 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,” said Rajesh Sehgal, M.D., vice-president, medical affairs at UPMC East. “As this community grows, our goal is to grow with it. We worked closely with physicians, staff and local EMS throughout the planning stages to expand the world-class services our patients expect of UPMC.”

Ongoing enhancements to the emergency department will include a retail pharmacy, expected to open before the end of the year, adding convenience for patients. 

“When patients are getting discharged, they will not need to stop on their way home or send loved ones to a pharmacy. We can provide them with a 30-day supply right here,” said Sehgal.

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