Gundersen St. Joseph's makes changes to ER and urgent care entrance

Recently, Gundersen St. Joseph's hospital made improvements to the ER and Urgent Care entrance in order to increase patient and visitor safety. The changes include motion sensors on the entrance ramp which alert the desk staff and door buzzers with video-intercom capability — allowing staff to screen visitors before allowing them into the facility. 

From now on, vehicles that use the ramp will set off a motion detector which will alert staff at the emergency room desk. Staff can then view and speak with the visitor through a video intercom before opening up the emergency bay doors. Local EMS teams have been provided with their own garage door openers. 

Pedestrian visitors will continue to access ER and Urgent Care through the emergency bay side door which is also fitted with its own video intercom. Staff will be able to screen pedestrian visitors before opening the internal door.

"We take patient, visitor and staff safety very seriously," said Dr. Scott Larson, PharmD, director of Pharmacy and Emergency Services at Gundersen St. Joseph's, "We want to ensure that they are protected and so the ability to quickly and visually screen our visitors helps us do that."