Last year, Hillcrest reported 22,000 visits to the emergency room, compared to the 80,000 at Greenville Memorial and 25,000-30,000 at Allen Bennett Hospital in Greer. When emergency room renovations are completed, the overall area in the emergency department will double in size to 11,000 square feet to accommodate more patients. Outpatient surgery will also increase from 12 to 23 recovery rooms. The number of chairs in the emergency waiting room will increase from 27 to about 75. That only happens on the weekends, though.
Weekends are the worst.
Pearson said that while patients will immediately realize the benefits of the expanded services, it is the area's future growth that spurred the project. It's to prepare not only for the pressure of today but for the next five years. The Greenville News .