AHN Launches Major Renovation and Expansion of Allegheny General Hospital Emergency Department

New, state-of-the-art facility will support high-quality emergency care and patient experiences at one of the region's busiest emergency and trauma centers

PITTSBURGH - Allegheny Health Network (AHN) announced today that it has launched a $43 million renovation and expansion of the emergency department at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH). The multi-phased, 36,000-square-foot project is slated for completion by the end of 2027.

As the network's flagship hospital and a leading Level 1 trauma center, AGH treats a high volume of critically ill patients and cares for more than 40,000 patients annually in its emergency department (ED). The new, state-of-the-art facility will better enable AGH's caregivers to provide the highest level of care to all patients who come through the ED's doors, said Imran Qadeer, MD, president, AGH.

"At AGH, we are committed to providing exceptional care and services for every emergency health need, and this new facility will greatly expand our capacity to do so," Dr. Qadeer said. "It will be a facility that better accommodates the growing demand for emergency services and empowers one of the best emergency medicine teams in the country to excel in meeting that demand."

The new AGH ED will have a total of 57 treatment rooms, including 48 patient beds, designed with open sight lines to maximize care efficiency and patient safety. Utilizing ambient glass enclosures, each room will foster a transparent environment, improving visibility and navigation for both staff and patients.

Construction of the facility will be phased over five stages to minimize disruption to patient care. The first phase, expected to be completed this fall, focuses on enhancing the initial patient experience with a new waiting area, triage and care initiation rooms, and a comfortable space for patients awaiting test results. These dedicated spaces, along with a new "forward flow" process designed for continuous progression of patients along their care journeys, are intended to expedite care and reduce wait times.

"A critical component of the AGH emergency department redesign is improving efficiency so we can provide better, faster care to more patients," said Bobby Kapur, MD, chair of emergency medicine at AHN. "This enhanced capability allows us to better serve our community, accept more critical transfers from other area hospitals and ensure those needing the most advanced care promptly receive it."

Other highlights of the first phase include a relocated entrance to the ED which will be positioned for greater visibility and near a new, centralized security station staffed by Highmark Health police officers for enhanced safety. In addition, a larger X-ray room will be constructed adjacent to existing CT rooms. And the first of several equipment alcoves, designed to improve workflow and storage, will open.

Phase two of the construction includes relocating and expanding the ED's trauma and resuscitation rooms. Six spacious trauma bays equipped with leading-edge technologies will expand the team's abilities to provide the highest level of trauma care. The bays will also have the capability to be converted into negative pressure rooms as needed for critically ill patients.

Future additional phases include adding flexible, secure treatment rooms designed to support patients with behavioral health needs, as well as a dedicated corridor with direct elevator access to the trauma ICU, operating rooms and radiology suite for streamlined patient transport to and from the ED. Additionally, a new lounge and dedicated respite room will provide ED clinicians and staff with space for rest and rejuvenation.

The new ED is part of a broader plan to transform the AGH campus over the next decade, further solidifying the institution's long legacy of clinical excellence and innovation, as well as its leading role as the academic medical hub and quaternary pacesetter of Highmark Health's Living Health model.

"Highly specialized facilities like AGH are vital community resources; acting as regional referral centers for the sickest patients, providing breakthrough treatments and cures, and serving as training sites for the next generation of medical pioneers and thought leaders," said Mark Sevco, president, AHN. "Investment in this facility and its remarkable caregivers is an investment in both the future of medicine and the unique Living Health strategy we are advancing to transform our industry and create the ultimate patient care experience for the people we serve."

AGH was established in 1886 and is currently home to some of the nation's foremost institutes for cancer care, cardiovascular medicine and surgery, neurosurgery and neurology, orthopaedic surgery, trauma care, and organ transplantation, among other specialties. The hospital has routinely been recognized for the quality and sophistication of the services it provides, including its management of complex health issues.

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