Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center invests $1 million in emergency department renovations
Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center (SNVMC) in Woodbridge, Va. invested $1 million in major improvements to its emergency department (ED) to increase functionality, enhance the patient experience, and strengthen security measures for visitors and staff.
The SNVMC ED is a level III trauma center and had more than 50,000 patient encounters in 2023. The upgrades were completed in June 2024.
Redesign and Remodeling
Among the improvements are two dedicated trauma rooms, designed to give the trauma team immediate access to specialized equipment and supplies to treat traumatic injuries quickly.
“The new trauma rooms are a tremendous resource for the community,” said Jeff Joyner, president of Sentara Northern Virginia Media Center. “They enable our medical staff to work more efficiently in responding to the most serious injuries.”
Emergency department staff gather in one of the new trauma treatment rooms at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center.
Other improvements include a new rapid assessment room, a focus care area to treat and release ambulatory patients quickly, and expanded supply storage, designed to enhance a patient’s experience and staff efficiency.
People visiting the ED will find a remodeled waiting area with new furniture and flooring and an open, more calming design. Glass partitions that once separated registration staff from patients checking in have been removed, allowing for easier communication and more personal engagement. New vending machines have been installed for those in the waiting area.
Improved Security Measures
In addition to comfort and functionality, new security measures have also been added to the ED. Following a successful pilot in Hampton Roads, a state-of-the-art XtractOne weapons detection system is now operational.
The XtractOne sensors detect shapes of guns, knives, and other weapons – and alert security personnel on site, who will then use a wand to determine if there is a weapon and ask the visitor to remove it from the building and return unarmed. The walk-through scanners are similar to those in use at sports stadiums and are designed to minimize disruption to patients, staff, and visitors.
Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center's renovated emergency department waiting area.
In addition to the security officer at the ED entrance, Sentara security officers are on duty 24 hours a day in the ED and the hospital’s behavioral health unit. Other security personnel patrol the hospital and monitor cameras covering the entire campus.
“So far, feedback has been positive about our new safety measures,” noted Joyner. “In the next phase of security upgrades, the XtractOne system will be added to the hospital’s main entrance to further enhance patient, staff, and visitor safety.”
It is Sentara policy that all sites of care and business are weapon free areas. Signage about this policy is on every entrance door. Additionally, the hospital has a visitor badging system requiring visitors to show a photo ID and wear a visitor badge.
Locations of Care
Sentara offers many convenient care options in Virginia and northeastern North Carolina.
- Virtual Care can address non-life-threatening conditions, including minor illnesses, physical therapy, and sports injury consultation.
- Primary Care is best suited for routine or long-term medical care, adult and pediatric care, and access to lab and imaging services.
- Urgent Care available through Sentara's Velocity Urgent care can address minor illnesses and injuries, non-life-threatening conditions, and lab and x-ray services.
- Sentara’s Emergency Department is open 24/7 and provides access to skilled care for health issues needing immediate intervention or stabilization. These include chest pain, shortness of breath, suspected strokes, traumatic injuries with bleeding, head trauma, and all other types of injuries.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911 to receive guidance about securing an ambulance or seeking other care.