St. E’s in Boardman expands department

Staff report

BOARDMAN

A blessing and dedication ceremony took place Tuesday to celebrate Humility of Mary Health Partners’ St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center emergency- department expansion.

The project has come in well ahead of schedule. Project completion originally was expected to be in late August or early September of this year, hospital officials said.

Over the past five years, the emergency department has experienced a steady increase in patient volumes. That growth increased dramatically in 2008, fueled by the hospital’s first full year of operation as an acute-care facility and the closure of Forum Health’s emergency department on the Beeghly Campus in late 2007.

New construction at the hospital totals more than 7,400 square feet and provides 12 additional emergency treatment areas, an additional nursing station and the relocation of the patient-registration and triage areas.

St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center opened its doors Aug. 1, 2007. The hospital is a member of HMHP, an integrated health system in the Youngstown/Warren area.