US-based health system Mercy has begun a significant expansion and redesign of the emergency department (ED) at its Mercy Hospital South facility in St Louis, Missouri.

The $75m project will expand the ED's existing capacity from 39,000ft² to 65,000ft² and increase its patient bed capacity from 61 to 73.

The expanded facility will also include six larger trauma bays, a behavioural health area with 13 beds, a more spacious waiting room, and ICU-like pods for better nurse visibility.

Mercy Hospital South's ED is one of the busiest in the St Louis area, having received more than 67,000 visits in the current fiscal year so far.

Construction work on the expansion effort is expected to take around two and a half years, with completion anticipated in early 2027.

The ED will continue to operate during this period, with temporary adjustments to ambulance and patient entrances.

Construction will also temporarily reduce the main drive from four lanes to one lane reserved for ambulance traffic.

Mercy Hospital South president Sean Hogan said: “Not only are we seeing more patients coming to us for care, but more patients are also acutely ill.

“We’re seeing significant increases in the number of stroke, heart attack and trauma patients seeking care at Mercy South.

“This redesign will help us continue the high-quality care we provide, improve patient experience, and meet the growing needs of our community.

“We need increased access to emergency care. It’s an important step to improving the overall health of our community and a major commitment by Mercy to provide care where it is needed.”

Mercy Hospital South is currently the only Missouri-designated Level I stroke centre and Level I STEMI (heart attack) centre.

It is the nearest stroke centre for patients living from south of St Louis County to the Arkansas border.