Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Braselton has opened its new, larger emergency department designed to serve the growing population across south Hall, Gwinnett, Jackson and Barrow counties.
The expansion doubles the size of the waiting room and treatment capacity, adding 27 rooms that include two trauma rooms, four resuscitation rooms, six behavioral health rooms and a dedicated stroke assessment room. A new CT scan suite was also added to speed diagnoses and treatment. The emergency department now spans more than 180,000 square feet.
“We’re extremely excited to better serve the growing needs of the surrounding community,” said Angela Gary, chief nursing officer for NGMC Braselton. “Our team of experts will provide the same, compassionate care as always, but we’ll be able to do it more efficiently and in a beautiful new space that’s a little more comfortable and private for patients.”
The project is part of a larger hospital campus expansion that also includes four new operating rooms, a new ambulance bay and a helipad with direct access to trauma services.
Douglas Morrison, MD, medical director of the emergency department, said the previous facility was not built to handle the number of patients seen in recent years. “We truly appreciate each and every patient who trusted us with their care as we provided excellent clinical care in cramped quarters. I think patients will see this new space was worth the wait,” Morrison said.
Since opening in 2015, NGMC Braselton has added services including interventional cardiology, advanced surgeries, a cancer treatment center and more. Matt Hanley, MD, president and CEO of Northeast Georgia Health System, said the expansion reflects the system’s mission to improve community health and its vision to provide excellent care and be the best run health system in Georgia.