MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—OhioHealth Marion General Hospital officially celebrated the completion of a $5.8 million renovation of its Emergency Department with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 5. The project, which took just over a year to complete, is aimed at significantly improving patient comfort, safety, and efficiency.
Hospital leaders and community members gathered to mark the end of the construction, which began in September 2024 and was carried out in phases to minimize disruption to patient care.
The transformation includes several key features designed to enhance the patient experience and care delivery:
- “Fast track” area: Dedicated for patients with low-acuity conditions, this section is intended to expedite less severe care, thereby improving flow for those with critical needs.
- Behavioral health area: A new, controlled environment specifically designed to ensure a safe and efficient care process for patients with behavioral health needs.
- Enhanced ultrasound space: Three large, procedure-friendly ultrasound rooms and a separate documentation room, allowing for support persons to be present with the patient when appropriate.
According to hospital officials, the improvements are already yielding positive results, with patients experiencing significantly less wait time to be seen by a physician.
“We’ve seen improvement in the amount of time it takes for our patients to go from the door to doctor in the Emergency Department,” said Matthew White, MD, medical director of emergency services at Marion General Hospital. “This new space helps our team of providers work as efficiently as possible.”
Jim Parobek, president of Marion General Hospital, affirmed the organization’s commitment. “This renovation is an essential part of our commitment to providing state-of-the art emergency services with a focus on efficiency, patient comfort, and safety,” Parobek said.
OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit healthcare system based in Columbus, serving a 50-county area.