The Houston County Health Care Authority (HCHCA) recently approved a $50 million expansion project for Southeast Health Medical Center as demand for emergency medical services and patient volumes continue to grow.

The Emergency Department at Southeast Health cared for 53,110 patients in fiscal year 2023. Currently, we are seeing an 8 percent increase in patient volume this year and we are projected to care for about 58,000 patients. It is the region’s only Level II Trauma Center, a Chest Pain Center, and one of three Comprehensive Stroke Centers in the state. The high level and complexity of care, a growing and aging population and its role as a regional referral center make expansion a critical need to address capacity challenges.

“This board is committed to meeting the growing healthcare needs of our region. Given the current increase in patient volume and future projections, expanding the Emergency Department and our inpatient bed capacity is critical,” said Chester Sowell, chairman of the HCHCA. “For the past several months, the clinical leadership in the Emergency Department, the design team, and specialized healthcare architects have been working together on this concept. They incorporated design features and patient flow operational models that will increase capacity, reduce wait times and diversion hours, and continue to meet the needs of increasingly complex patients.”

Southeast Health will submit a Certificate of Need (CON) application to the state healthcare review board, which is the first step to move forward with the project. The review process takes approximately 120 days. Once CON approval is granted, construction is expected to be completed in fall of 2027

The four-phase Emergency Department expansion project is estimated to cost slightly more than $25 million which includes:

• Adding 21,300 square feet to the ED and renovating 16,700 existing square feet.
• Increasing treatment spaces from 32 to 66 to accommodate up to 75,000 visits annually.
• Relocating Southeast Medicine Shop to a convenient storefront location inside the lobby.
• Adding a CT Scanner and a satellite Laboratory to improve patient flow and efficiency.
• Incorporating a safe treatment area for Behavioral Health Patients.
• Expanding the waiting area to allow seating for 100 patients and guests.

The project will also include adding two patient floors above the Emergency Department at an investment of more than $24.5. The proposed design would add a multi-story tower with 52 new inpatient hospital beds.

The HCHCA maintains a strategic plan to ensure the Medical Center continues to be positioned as the health care leader in the region. During the last seven years, more than $200 million has been re-invested in the health system. Major projects include a Cancer Center expansion, a new 14-bed Critical Care Unit, a new Pediatric Unit, adoption of Epic, a world class electronic health record, the modernization of several patient care units, and significant upgrades to equipment and technology used in the care and treatment of patients. These investments were made to improve access to care, quality, and the patient experience, without incurring any additional debt.

The Emergency Department expansion project was identified prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and placed on hold. After moving past that uncertain financial period, HCHCA, revisited the topic and unanimously voted to proceed.