In 2023 our firm was selected to be guest lecturers on the topic “Rural Emergency Hospital: The Future of Promoting Equity and Access to Care.” Our team of leading healthcare design individuals defined what is a REH setting and its qualifications to benefit from the program. We evaluated the role of the community hospital through the lens of healthcare designers, health system owners, and collaboration with state-level non-profit allied organizations to share the evolution of this newly released provider type. We presented case studies of this evolution; including but not limited to the critical access hospital, the micro-hospital, and the free-standing ED. Through this evaluation, we identify both tangible and intangible challenges/setbacks and projected benefits in converting to a REH facility.
In HCD Magazine 2023 September edition featured the article “Care Where It’s Needed” written by our own Hillary Earl-Crosby, AIA NCARB. This article discusses CMS’s and Rural Emergency Hospital Designation while also featuring our latest replacement hospital project, Union Medical Center.
St. Mary’s Good Samaritan
Winner of the GACH Hospital of the Year Award, St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital is the product of close collaboration between medical staff, hospital administration and Earl Architects. Despite an accelerated schedule and tight budget, EA was able to complete the Good Samaritan Hospital on time and on budget. The facility increases the scope and quality of care available to local citizens and visitors, but also provides a new center of outreach to surrounding communities.
ST. MARY’S SACRED HEART HOSPITAL
Featured in Healthcare Design Magazine’s Showcase addition, the St. Mary’s Sacred Heart Hospital, (formally Ty Cobb Regional Medical Center) incorporates the latest evidence-based design concepts, including natural daylight, views to nature, standardized room design and care concepts to reduce errors, and access to the newest technology and communication tools. The result is an efficient layout that is “right-sized” for the community, but staged for future growth and expansion.
Tanner Medical Center / East Alabama
Tanner Medical Center / East Alabama is a critical access micro-hospital that provides the best of modern healthcare to the Randolph county lakeside community and the eastern Alabama area. Centrally located in Randolph county’s seat, Wedowee, the “micro” footprint of the facility is right- sized to serve the community, with a scalable design for room to grow. By connecting to the existing medical office building serving outpatients on site, the new facility creates a streamlined location delivering quality care.
Carteret Health
This project required a Master Facility Plan plus design and construction for a three-story, 122,000 square foot state-of- the-art addition to the existing hospital. The addition includes a Comprehensive Cancer Center, a Women’s Center, and a Patient Tower that will eventually replace and convert existing beds to all private rooms.
