Canonsburg General Hospital will offer the public an up-close look at its new $7.3 million emergency department during an open house Thursday.

Bigger, at 11,200 square feet, and better, as in cutting-edge equipment, the department has been five years in the planning and one year under construction. Work crews continued on the job last week, laying tile and finishing other tasks.

It is vital to have the space, personnel and equipment to meet the needs of patients, said Kim Malinky, president and chief executive officer of the hospital, which is part of the West Penn Allegheny Health System.

From 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, the public will be able to see what the department has to offer. It represents the first major improvement since the 1983 opening of the hospital.

Consider the new: a larger entry; 18 specialty examination rooms, compared with eight, each with a sliding glass door and curtain for privacy; a medical imaging suite; new cardiac monitor technology; expanded waiting areas; and more office space for medical personnel.

The medical imaging suite is digital, meaning images are transferred to the radiologist and emergency department physicians in seconds. A shorter waiting time for images also is possible because of equipment dedicated strictly to the department.

Another addition to the department is a separate heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, which, in the case of contamination from treating hazardous accident patients, would allow it to be shut down so no cross-contamination occurs in the rest of the hospital, Ms. Malinky said.

Other additions include an outpatient surgical suite, bringing the total number of surgical suites to four; improved ambulatory care; a surgical recovery room; and a large waiting area.

Among the improvements in the waiting area is an Austin's Playroom, about 120 square feet, made possible by a Mario Lemieux Foundation Playroom Project grant, which has helped establish playrooms in 14 Western Pennsylvania hospitals. They are named for the Penguins owner's son, Austin, who was born premature. The Canonsburg Hospital playroom, will include an aquarium, games, a television set and child-size furniture.

Added to the emergency room is a private patient triage area, and with it a new procedure that Dr. Jonathan Landis, medical director, said would get patients to the treatment areas more quickly. The goal, he said, is that all patients are to be seen by a physician in less than 30 minutes.

Currently, the emergency department treats about 18,000 patients a year. The hospital expects to meet the needs of 25,000 to 30,000 patients annually, Ms. Malinky said. The hospital serves about 161,000 in a growing community. Should growth exceed expectations, the department was built to support a second floor.

Forty-five parking spaces have been added, and parking will continue to be free.

With the new emergency room, the department will enlarge its staff to 10 physicians, six of them full time. The medical staff includes five nurse practitioners, 27 nurses, six registrars and four secretaries.

Another new feature will come in September with electronic documentation. That means the staff can access a patient's medical records from any personal computer in the department. Currently, records are kept on paper.

The addition was built through a combination of funding from state and federal grants, The West Penn Allegheny Health System and staff, and volunteer and women's auxiliary contributions. Foundation grants and business donations also were collected during capital campaigns. About $2 million remains to be raised to retire the debt.