Carle is beginning work on some major upgrades to its main campus in Urbana. It will focus on increasing entryway visibility and improving visitor and patient experiences.
Patients and visitors may experience minor disruptions on walking paths, particularly for those accustomed to using the Breezeway entrance, which will close during the duration of the project to become the main entry point for the hospital. Construction is set to begin in September with completion expected early next year.
The first phase – expected to last six to eight months – will not affect patient drop-off at the main entrance or Emergency Department.
The first phase includes first floor concourse and Breezeway expansion to provide additional improvements in areas including:
- A new 24 hour, 7 days a week café
- Gift shop
- Chapel
- Carle Medical Supply
The second phase redesigns the Emergency Department entryway, optimizing available space and patient and visitor safety. Once completed, the renovated Emergency Department entryway will provide separate ambulance and walk-in patient entrances. The number of ambulance bays will increase from four to six to meet rising demands.
‘’These renovations will make our emergency care entrances more visible and will reduce congestion,’’ says Lynne Barnes, chief operating officer, Carle Foundation Hospital, and senior vice president.
‘’We are also adding 10 flexible-treatment areas on the first floor of the hospital for outpatient hospital services including expanded care and observation,’’ said Barnes.
And the lower area of the hospital in Urbana is seeing behind-the-scenes improvements to the kitchen to support the new 24 hour food service on the main level.
[The top photo is of the Orchard Street entrance. All artist renderings courtesy of Carle Marketing Department. You can click on the photos to enlarge them.]
