Enhancing access to essential emergency care

Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health continued investing in the future of health care in downtown Lancaster by announcing an expansion of Lancaster General Hospital. The expansion will nearly double the hospital’s emergency capacity from 54 to approximately 95 treatment bays. Four bays will be dedicated to an expanded area for trauma cases and additional treatment areas will be designated for behavioral-health and pediatric patients.

As Lancaster County’s population grows, so too does the demand for care at Lancaster General Hospital, and our other clinical operations. LGH’s Emergency Department, last renovated in 2003 and designed to optimally accommodate 90,000 visits annually, saw nearly 118,000 visits last fiscal year. Trauma cases have also steadily grown over the past 15 years.

The expansion will additionally modernize LGH’s comprehensive food-service operations serving patients, employees and visitors. The hospital’s expansive food service department and 350-seat dining area will be relocated and redesigned.

Hospitals nationwide are re-investing in their dining offerings to emphasize healthful eating and wellness, as well as to promote a sense of community through indoor and outdoor seating areas. Early concepts of the dining area envision food stations offering healthy food made-to-order and defined areas for socialization.

Last renovated more than 30 years ago, LGH’s kitchen prepares 3,500 meals each day for patients, visitors and employees.

The Duke Street expansion project is expected to break ground in mid-2020.