By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – St. Louis University Hospital Thursday opened a redesigned emergency room.
SLU Hospital officials say the number of ER patients treated annually passed 30,000 last year, and the number of trauma injury cases has risen even more sharply.
Many of the patients are coming from Illinois.
SLU Emergency Department head Dr. Laurie Byrne says part of the reason for that is the dwindling number of surgeons in the Metro East.
"Because we're one of the only St. Louis hospitals that is accredited as a trauma center in Illinois, we get a large amount of that," Byrne said. "I would say a majority of it."
The $1.3 million renovation includes updated medical equipment and an improved floor plan.
The ER is also adding more physicians and nurses.