St. Luke’s University Health Network, with the snip of a ribbon by oversized scissors, opened its expanded and renovated emergency room Aug. 19, to meet the community’s growing need for urgent care at the hospital at Hamilton and 17th streets.

The renovations include the relocated ER entrance to improve patient access and the addition of a new waiting area and treatment areas.

The ER patient entrance was moved from the north side of the hospital, facing Hamilton Street, to the southeast corner, on Maple Street and adjacent to the hospital’s main entrance.

“In keeping with St. Luke’s mission of treating our patients as our first priority, this location will make access easier for those who are coming from the parking deck to find either the ER or main hospital entrance,” says Bill Moyer, president of St. Luke’s Allentown Campus.

The ambulance entrance will remain on the hospital’s north side.

The 20,000-square-foot expansion of the ER, costing $6.3 million, adds 14 more private treatment areas to support the rapidly growing department.

Advanced LifeAire technology will purify the air and create negative air flow, adding yet another measure of safety from infections for patients, visitors and caregivers, a first in any hospital ER in Pennsylvania.

A special feature of this new facility is the ER kids’ space that includes artwork from many children who were patients including a painting by 8-year-old Vincent Papa.

“Creating artwork is so much fun and I wanted to donate my painting to make other children happy when they are sick,” he explained.

Vincent and his brother, Giovanni, were both born at St. Luke’s Allentown campus.

Moyer said the upsized ER will accommodate as many as 70,000 patients per year, as demand for its services continues to grow.

“By expanding patient treatment space, we will seek to improve the emergency care experience for our patients who come here during some of the worst days of their lives,” says Ryan Kloss, RN, the department’s patient care manager.