Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital begins $12M modernization of emergency department

DeKALB – Demolition began Monday on a three-phase, $12 million renovation of the emergency department at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital.

The project will be completed in three phases over 16 months to allow optimal emergency department operations during construction. During construction, the emergency department will continue operations. The hospital’s emergency department entrance and waiting area will be temporarily relocated.

“We will still be taking care of our patients with the same great, high-quality care they’ve always received,” said Kristen Tindall, patient care manager of the emergency department. “We look forward to welcoming patients into our brand new, state-of-the-art emergency department, where we always put patients and their care first.”

Construction is expected to be completed September 2022.

“The emergency department renovation will update the physical environment to match the high-quality, compassionate care provided by our clinicians and staff,” said Jay Anderson, president, Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital, in a news release. “We look forward to offering the community greater comfort during what is often a stressful time in a more calming and modern environment.”

Construction and renovation plans

Dan Callaghan, project manager of planning and construction for Northwestern Medicine, said that renovation of the hospital’s emergency department has been “thought about for years,” with drafting of the conceptual design beginning two and a half years ago.

Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital was built in 2007, and although an addition was built onto the emergency department, no major renovation has taken place since the building was constructed.

“The renovation will feature a whole new layout and floor plan,” Callaghan said. “There will be new flooring, new walls and paint, a new mechanical system and new duct work. Each room will have its own zone control with a thermostat.”

The emergency department’s number of rooms will increase from 23 to 34, including 14 exam rooms, three trauma rooms, two isolation rooms and three holding bays for patients waiting for results. Five fast-track rooms are designed to quickly treat patients with mild ailments and injuries, such as sore throat, urinary tract infections and sprained ankles.

A behavioral health suite will feature four treatment bays designed to promote safety for patients and staff. When a bay is being used for a behavioral health patient, an overhead door will be lowered to ensure the patient is protected from any equipment that could be used to cause self-harm.

The emergency department will also have all new carts and stretchers, three trauma stretchers and new medical equipment. A second pneumatic tube station will be installed to efficiently send specimens to the lab. An overflow area, equipped with medical gas, will accommodate additional patients if needed during a surge event. A dedicated security services office will be embedded within the emergency department.

“This renovation is very important because our emergency department has had some wear and tear over the years,” Tindall said. “The new equipment will increase our efficiency, the flow of our department and reduce wait times. ... We’re really excited for the future, and the renovations will benefit the community, our patients and our staff.”

Dr. Andrew Oleksyn, the emergency department’s medical director, has been employed by the hospital for more than 15 years and witnessed the building and opening of the hospital and its emergency room in 2007.

“Through the years, I have seen the community grow, and patient volume has grown exponentially,” he said. “The new design of the emergency room keeps patients’ safety and hospital efficiency in mind. The new design will allow us to have a versatile environment.”

Oleksyn said he is looking forward to the completion of the renovation project.

“We just ask for patience and understanding during the construction process, because we’re working with limited space during construction,” he said. “Once construction is all said and done, we’re going to have a very upscale, efficient and modern emergency department, and we’re all excited about that.”