University of Kansas Hospital plans ER expansion for better patient care

To keep up with growing patient demand, the University of Kansas Hospital is expanding its emergency department through an $800,000 project. The expansion will add seven beds to the emergency room for a total of 32, and is expected to be completed by the end of the summer. KU Hospital had 41,000 emergency room visits in its latest fiscal year and expects to have about 44,000 this year. Like other emergency departments in its area, the KU Hospital emergency room frequently must divert patients because the department fills up.