Mercyhealth expanded emergency access in Beloit, Wisconsin by transforming an existing clinic into the city’s second full-service emergency department—nearly doubling local access to emergency care.
Delivered in partnership with Mortenson and GBBN, the project transformed the facility to provide 24/7 emergency services alongside urgent care and clinic services, adding capacity and strengthening emergency response across the community.
A Purpose-Built Facility Designed for Outcomes
A defining feature of the Beloit expansion is its dual-model approach to care. Upon arrival, patients are assessed to determine whether their needs can be met through lower-cost urgent care or require full emergency department treatment. By co-locating urgent care and emergency services, this model eliminates the stressful “urgent care vs. ER” decision families often face alone at home, while avoiding transfers between separate facilities, reducing wait times and handoffs, and improving overall operational efficiency. Patients receive the right level of care—both clinically and financially—without delay.
Designed to accommodate approximately 15,000 visits annually, the Mercyhealth Beloit Emergency Department model supports:
- Reduced wait times
- Improved access to emergency care
- Lower risk of at-capacity emergency department overflow
- Clearer pathways to the right level of care
- Enhanced patient experience
- Delivery Method
-
Construction Manager at Risk
- Additional Project Facts
-
Completion Date: October 2025
21,500 Square Feet Total (7,600 Square Feet Addition and 14,000 Square Feet Renovation)
This project was about expanding access to emergency care while keeping our focus where it belongs—on patients, families, and caregivers. By working closely as one team, we were able to keep services running safely throughout construction and deliver a facility that better serves the Beloit community.
Overcoming Challenges Through Collaboration
Expanding emergency services while keeping an active clinic open required close coordination and shared problem-solving. Beginning in October 2024, Mercyhealth and Mortenson worked together to maintain uninterrupted access to care throughout construction, prioritizing patient safety, staff efficiency, and clear communication at every stage.
To achieve this, the team focused on three core priorities:
- Continuity of care: Proactive relocation of existing care spaces, supported by a temporary on-site clinic, ensured continuous outpatient services throughout construction.
- Patient and staff safety: Clear wayfinding and physical separation between care and construction areas helped maintain a calm, secure environment.
- Seamless integration: Thoughtful design and intentional patient-flow decisions smoothly integrated the new emergency department into the existing facility.
Spaces That Empower Care Teams
The expanded facility was designed to support how care teams work in real time, with clear separation of functions, efficient circulation, and spaces aligned to clinical needs.
- 24-hour emergency department: Integrated diagnostic and trauma capabilities, supporting timely evaluation, treatment, and decision-making.
- Refreshed clinic environment: Exam rooms, staff spaces, and administrative areas designed to enable efficient workflows and continuity of care.
- EMS integration: A new ambulance bay and dedicated ambulance access improve routing, reduce handoff time, and foster a coordinated emergency response.
Leveraging Virtual Reality (VR) Technology in the Design Process
To support smarter, more informed decision-making during design phase, the project team used virtual reality tools to:
- Visualize patient flows and identify opportunities to improve wayfinding and staff movement
- Test room layouts in full-scale immersive environments before construction
- Enhance clinical stakeholder input, ensuring spaces align with real-world workflows
- Accelerate design alignment, reducing costly late-stage changes
A Stronger Healthcare Future for Beloit
By investing in the Beloit community, Mercyhealth is enabling faster emergency response, expanded services, and a care environment built for long-term growth. The new Beloit ED stands as a model of thoughtful design, operational excellence, and systemwide continuity, ensuring exceptional care for every patient who walks through its doors.
This project marks the eighth collaboration between Mortenson and Mercyhealth over the past nine years, including the flagship Mercyhealth Javon Bea Hospital & Physician Clinic – Riverside in Rockford, IL.
