A long effort to build a $7 million emergency department at Canonsburg General Hospital will become reality with the help of a $2.5 million state grant.

Hospital and government officials were to break ground Friday for the new emergency department, which will triple the size of the existing facility in North Strabane and offer an array of new services, improved facilities and more private rooms for patients.

"The purpose of this is to meet the health-care needs of the community we serve and meet, and exceed, the needs of our patients," said Kim Malinky, hospital chief executive officer and president. "We are patient-oriented and we are looking for ways to improve on what we already do well."

She said the hospital is in a growing area, with numerous new housing developments, even within sight of the hospital. With the help of state Rep. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg, and state Sen. J. Barry Stout, D-Bentleyville, the hospital landed a $2.5 million Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant, which Gov. Ed Rendell approved.

The hospital has hired Dr. Jonathan Landis as emergency department chairman and medical director, who will "make this the best emergency department in Washington County," Malinky said.

The construction project, scheduled to be finished in May, will increase the number of examination rooms from eight to 18 and include two trauma rooms, four cardiac rooms and a patient observation area which will accommodate four patients.

It also will feature a medical imaging suite, larger enclosed treatment rooms to guarantee patient privacy, a visible entrance to eliminate confusion, expanded patient and family waiting areas, a centrally located nurse station to allow greater visibility and accessibility, and a large decontamination area to treat patients involved in industrial accidents.

The project will provide room for expansion, outpatient surgical suites and offices for physician consultation and emergency medical personnel. Other additions include increased parking and improvements to ambulatory care, including a triage area and surgical recovery room.

To date, $4.87 million has been raised through public and private donations, including the $2.5 million state grant. During the 12 months of construction, members of the hospital's Capital Campaign Committee will continue soliciting public and business donations to raise the $2.13 million still needed.

For more information or to make a donation, contact Kim Manko at 724-873-5835.

During construction, emergency medical services will continue uninterrupted, hospital officials said. The project architect is IKM Inc. Allegheny Construction Group will be general contractor.

Malinky credited Solobay with shepherding the $2.5 million grant through the Legislature.

Solobay said he began working on landing a grant five years ago. Since then, he said, he has built up points with legislative leaders, all while pointing out the fact that the hospital sits in the middle of one of the state's fastest growing regions.

"They see the growth from slots at The Meadows, the Tanger Outlet Center, Bass Pro Shop and new housing starts, all within a mile of air space from the hospital," he said. "It was its time."