"We are moving our front door:" Change coming as it relates to Froedtert's emergency entrance
MILWAUKEE -- A big change is coming to Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin beginning Tuesday, July 14th, and it will affect the way you get help in an emergency.
"It was causing confusion, causing congestion -- frustrations," Dr. Chris Decker with Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin said.
But for that -- there's a cure.
"We are moving our front door to the other side of the building," Dr. Decker said.
On Monday, July 13th, Dr. Decker and others with Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin were one day away from making an important move.
Currently, adults seeking treatment at Froedtert, and patients from Children's Hospital use the same emergency entrance on West Connell Avenue. As of Tuesday morning, adults will gain access through an entrance on William Coffey Drive.
Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin
"There was 120,000 visits going through that parking lot -- so what this did is separate that out, so they'll have their 60,000 going, and we'll have our 64,000 going here," Dr. Decker said.
Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin
That's because in an emergency, seconds count -- but so does comfort.
"It's comforting. It's comfortable. And so while patients are waiting for their care, it's a much better experience, and while patients' families are waiting for their family members, it's a much better experience," Dr. Decker said.
The Children's Hospital emergency entrance will remain where it is. Hospital administrators say a $19 million expansion project is slated to continue into January of 2016.
Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin
Hospital administrators anticipate some adjustment time will be necessary, and they've planned accordingly.
"We have signs. We have people at the door, way-finding for us. We have connections between the two emergency departments so if we needed to take a short cut and bring them to the emergency department, we could do that," Dr. Decker said.
Again -- William Coffey Drive is what adults will use to access Froedtert's emergency department as of Tuesday at 7:00 a.m.
Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin