He said it will be about 18 months before construction begins. A larger emergency room is needed to accommodate a steady increase in the number of patients, he said. The emergency room has nine treatment areas and can treat 19,000 patients a year. The new space will have 15 to 18 treatment areas and will be able to handle 30,000 to 35,000 patients a year, Kiefer said. The hospital, which became affiliated with Tampa-based University Community Hospital last year, probably will need to launch a fundraising campaign to raise some money and borrow the remaining amount.
Volunteers work at the front counter, the gift shop and the snack bar at the hospital.
They also work at health fairs and special events and in offices at Helen Ellis. She said she is proud of all the money the volunteers have donated through the years. St. Petersburg Times.