Hospital shifts ER entrance

Kalispell Regional Medical Center’s emergency department walk-in and patient drop-off entrance is moving a short distance this morning to the east side of the emergency department.

Construction work on the hospital’s new Surgical Services Tower has progressed to the current emergency room area, so the entrance is being moved to avoid potential safety hazards for patients and their families entering the hospital.

Starting at 7 a.m. today, the new entrance for patient drop-off and other foot traffic will be east of the ambulance entrance on Conway Drive — closer to the Brendan House entrance.

Watch for signs posted at the intersection with U.S. 93 and continuing along Conway Drive to the emergency parking area and the walk-in entrance.

Over the Memorial Day weekend holiday, hospital visitors and patients can look for a 40-foot-long red canopy and a hand railing leading from Conway Drive to the walk-in emergency entrance.

Patient waiting, admitting and emergency care all will be available through the new entrance. The current entrance to the west will be closed to general access but will be available for emergency exit if needed.