05-02-2025
Norman Regional expands, adds 7 new rooms to emergency department
NORMAN, Okla. (KFOR) – Norman Regional Hospital has added 7 new rooms to its emergency department.
'This is critical, and it's important to us,' said Brittni McGill, the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer. 'All of the rooms are set up the same. There is standardization on purpose.'
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According to a spokeswoman for Norman Regional Health System, the rooms' construction started in May of last year. The actual opening was in November 2024.
McGill said what makes the room unique is the airflow circulation.
'At the flip of a switch to change the airflow, so that, if we have airborne isolation patients, we want that to flow out of the building,' said McGill.
She added that the rooms are also able to isolate patients with different viruses.
The expansion was made possible thanks to $1 million in federal funding.
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'When we got the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money, you know, of course, it was to prepare for the next pandemic,' said Rod Cleveland, the Cleveland County Commissioner for District 1. 'We really wanted to make sure that we were ahead of the curve, that we were prepared.'
Hospital officials said these additional rooms come at a crucial time.
'Since it is cold and flu season, we are experiencing an influx of patients that have different viruses,' said McGill. 'Pre COVID, we would see about 100,000 patients between our three emergency departments, and we are on track to exceed that since we have opened this facility.'
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