Knoxville Hospital & Clinics has started the second phase of the $21 million expansion project to its facility with the renovation to the Emergency Department.

The first phase was completed in February with the opening of the Don & Margaret Long Infusion Center and Weiler Foundation Specialty Clinics. The emergency department expansion and renovation will include construction of a new waiting/reception area, two trauma bays, three private treatment rooms, two mental health rooms, workspace for staff, and additional storage for equipment and supplies. The work will be done in phases, with the first beginning this week. During this phase, the main emergency department entrance will close. A temporary emergency entrance will be located in the ambulance garage through mid-July. Exterior signage will direct patients to the new temporary entrance. Knoxville Hospital & Clinics CEO Kevin Kincaid says the emergency department project will be separated out over time.

“Phase one is the biggest, most complicated phase and that begins on March 20th and we’re slated to finish that on July 11th. We want to have that done before RAGBRAI, and make sure we are back operational in that phase.”

Hear more about this project from Kincaid on an upcoming Let’s Talk Knoxville.