Kuakini Medical Center unveiled its new state-of-the-art emergency room yesterday, which is about double the size of its previous emergency services wing and is tentatively expected to begin accepting patients Jan. 10.

Kuakini officials conducted a blessing of the $6.75 million facility yesterday and said they believe it will help meet the community's increasing need for emergency services. Construction began in May.

The 16-bed emergency wing will likely serve more than 13,000 patients a year. It features an increased number of private treatment rooms and two trauma treatment rooms.

"The rooms are twice the size they used to be and they're more functional with upgraded monitoring systems," said Gary Kajiwara, president and CEO of Kuakini Health Systems. "It's more patient friendly."

Kajiwara said the former emergency room, which is still in operation, had only three private treatment rooms. The new facility has 10. He also stressed the importance of the facility's ability to manage two major trauma cases at the same time.

"If we have cases that need to be isolated off, we're better able to do that now," he said.

This is the first time that Kuakini's emergency room has been upgraded in more than 30 years.

The facility also includes a covered receiving area for patients being transported by ambulance and has a centrally located nurses station, which makes for improved monitoring of patients. It also features two external entrances for patients, direct elevator access to the intensive care unit and a separate visitor waiting area.

Reach Loren Moreno at lmoreno@honoluluadvertiser.com.