New Cleveland Clinic ER Hosts Mock Training Day

Avon's new Cleveland Clinic emergency room was buzzing with patients in need of immediate care Aug. 29. As ambulance after ambulance pulled up, paramedics from four area cities handed off patients to ER staff. One individual, deemed in need of additional care, was taken outside for transport by a waiting Cleveland Clinic helicopter.

Fortunately, none of the patients were in actual need of medical care.

Hoping to work out last-minute kinks and acclimate everyone from emergency room workers to nearby EMS squads to the west side’s newest ER facility, staff at the r off Nagle Road in Avon conducted a mock training day on Wednesday.

The 24-hour, 15,000-square-foot emergency department is attached to the center’s 190,000-square-foot $93 million center that opened in December 2011. The center is visible from I-90.

The cener's ER, which contains 12 bays, is scheduled to open at 7 a.m. on Sept. 5.

“This is state of the art,” Cherine El-Dabh, the center’s executive medical director, said. “(The center) is the only one in Lorain County with an emergency department attached to it. It’s a big service for our community.”

On Wednesday, EMS squads from , North Ridgeville and Sheffield Lake took turns transporting “patients” to the center.

“It’s training for emergency department staff, security, everyone,” El-Dabh said. “It’s as close to real as we can get.”

El-Dabh said the helicopter, which is stationed 24/7 at the center unless it’s in transport, has the capability to fly a 250-mile range. The helipad is located next to a parking lot.

EMS Coordinator Greg Laborie said in addition to the helicopter, a Donald Martens ambulance will also be permanently housed at the center.

Asked whether there was any concern over area construction due to the impending Avon interchange, Laborie said area EMS personnel were aware of the detour.

“We keep them informed of routes changing,” he said, but noted that once the interchange opens later this year, it will mean a reduction in time for transporting most patients, especially those in Avon Lake.  Just Imagine Drive, currently closed, is also expected to open in the next two weeks.

The center is the “twin” of an identical center in

“Our staff is seasoned, experienced personnel,” Laborie said.

Avon Lake Fire Lt. Jeff Moore, who attended the training, called the day’s practices “accurate.”

“It was very accurate in the timing,” Moore said.

“It’s nice to work with them and they get to work out the kinks,” Moore said.  “It’s a very nice facility; having another option is always good.”

Moore, like Laborie, said he expected a significantly decreased transport time once the interchange opens and EMS services can use I-90.