New Valleywise Emergency Department Raises Level of Emergency and Trauma Care

The Emergency Department at Valleywise Health Medical Center is one of the busiest in Arizona. Thanks to the opening of a new facility, people brought to Valleywise Health’s ED needing life-saving care today are treated in a new, state-of-the-art facility.

On June 13, 2024, the new Valleywise ED opened for business at 3 a.m. as patients were transferred from the 1970s era facility to the new building. Simultaneously, the legacy ED stopped receiving new emergency patients, as a new era in emergency and trauma care began. “Over 85 percent of our patients enter the system through the Emergency Department,” said Heather Burton, MSN, RN, Vice President of Acute and Emergency Services. “Our new ED is light years ahead of the old hospital.”

The new Valleywise Health Medical Center ED — more than 28,000 square feet dedicated to an average of 220 patients who seek treatment each day — provides enhanced operational flow for staff and patients. It features 55 private rooms, including 15 pediatric rooms and 3 trauma/resuscitation bays, as well as 11 dedicated observation rooms, compared to 32 licensed beds in the old hospital.

“Along with more space, one of the features of the new ED is privacy, which is extremely important. Instead of being separated by curtains, each patient is treated in private rooms grouped together in pods to help expedite emergency care,” Burton said.

Located within the new ED is the Level I Trauma Center where those patients who have life-threatening injuries receive care in one of the busiest and most recognized trauma centers in Arizona. Valleywise Health has 24-hour in-house coverage by trauma surgeons and prompt availability of specialties such as orthopedics, neurosurgery, anesthesiology, radiology, respiratory among many others.

“Patients arriving via the helipad use special elevators that zip down 10 floors in less than 10 seconds to the Trauma Center,” said Dr. Gaby Iskander, Valleywise Health Trauma Director. “When every second counts, it’s critical that we get the patient to the Trauma Center as quickly as possible.”