Patients arriving at Elmhurst Hospital's emergency department have a new path out of the ER. The hospital opened a 16-bed Patient Observation Unit off its East Lobby on Thursday, July 16, giving clinical teams a dedicated space for patients who need extra monitoring before going home or being admitted.

The unit is the first completed piece of a multi-phase campus expansion that includes two additional projects: a two-story addition above the Nancy Knowles Cancer Center and a new medical office building, according to an Endeavor Health press release published July 16.

Dr. Kim Darey, president of Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital, said the unit will ease pressure on the emergency department.

"This new unit provides a dedicated, specialized space for our clinical teams to care for patients who may require just a little more monitoring," Darey said. "It will also help patients transition more smoothly from the emergency room when it's time, ensuring our neighbors and loved ones are cared for promptly and comfortably."

What's next on campus

The observation unit sits off the East Lobby as an extension of the existing Surgical Observation Unit. It opened during the hospital's centennial year.

The next two phases will expand cancer care, surgical services, and pediatric care on the campus. The two-story cancer center addition was also reported by the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday, July 1. No construction timeline or groundbreaking date for either future project has been publicly announced.

The Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation launched a Centennial Campaign to fund the expansion, advanced technology, and professional development; donations are accepted at endeavorhealth.org/give/foundations/elmhurst-memorial-hospital-foundation/centennial-campaign.