Construction to begin Monday, September 27
September 24, 2021
Construction is set to begin Monday, September 27, on a remodeling of the Riverside Medical Center Emergency Department. The Riverside Emergency Department will remain open 24 hours, 7 days a week, during the construction, with no impact on capacity or wait times.
“This is the first step in making our emergency department more efficient, more private, and in the process create an improved patient experience,” said Phil Kambic, Riverside Healthcare president and CEO.
“The project is expected to last 16 months. Over the course of the remodeling, there will be alternate access points, but the emergency department will remain open to serve the community with the excellent care our emergency department has always provided, and cause as little disruption to patient flow as possible,” Kambic said.
Starting Monday, September 27, those approaching the hospital from the south on Wall Street should use the first entrance to Riverside Medical Center on the east side of the street to access the emergency department parking lot and the A Entrance.
Patients traveling to the emergency department from the north need to use the last entrance on the east side of the street, just after passing under the overhead walkway to access the emergency department parking and the A Entrance.
Emergency department staff are available to assist patients who are not able to walk into the hospital. Please call the Riverside Emergency Department directly at (815) 935-7500 if you are needing assistance when you arrive.
The middle entrance on the east side of Wall Street is for ambulance use only and cannot be used for patient drop-off or for visitors entering the emergency department. The A Entrance of the hospital is where patients will need to be dropped off to access the emergency department during this phase of construction, regardless of the time of day.
24-hour Access will Continue
While the emergency department will remain open 24-hours, patients and visitors needing access from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. need to use the A Entrance.
Parking is located in front of the sidewalk, with designated emergency department patient drop-off and pick-up spots. Upon entering the hospital, patients and visitors will see signage guiding them to the emergency department waiting room where they will proceed to registration as normal.
During evening hours - 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. - the A Entrance doors will be closed, so patients need to be dropped off at the emergency department patient drop-off, then proceed on foot to the patient entrance located under the Ambulance Only drive-thru. Signage will be in place during evening hours to guide patients to the automatic doors under the Ambulance Only drive-thru.
Cars cannot drive under the Ambulance Only drive-thru as they have done in the past. This area is restricted to use by ambulances only.