Published on October 14, 2026
Read Time: 3 Minutes
Three Things to Know
- Phelps Health celebrated the completion of the steel frame for its new Emergency Department, about 1 year after breaking ground.
- The new Emergency Department is designed to meet growing needs, with upgraded trauma bays, larger triage, and waiting areas and dedicated spaces for patients in a behavioral health crisis.
- Construction will move into the next phase as crews continue work on the building’s walls and interior spaces.
The skies threatened rain, but the weather held off and eventually cleared as Phelps Health marked an important milestone in the construction of its new Emergency Department with a topping out ceremony September 22.
The event marked the completion of the building’s steel frame, about 1 year after Phelps Health broke ground on the project. Phelps Health leaders, staff, providers, community members, construction partners, and local and state officials attended the ceremony.
“Topping out is an old tradition. It goes back nearly 1,000 years to when builders would place an evergreen tree on the last beam to mark a project reaching a safe and hopeful turning point,” said Somer Overshon, chief transformation officer at Phelps Health. “With the structural framework now complete, the project can move into its next stages.”
As part of the tradition, community members and Phelps Health team members had the chance to sign the final beam before it was raised. An evergreen tree and an American flag were also placed on the beam. The evergreen represents growth, strength and continuity—fitting symbols for a building that will serve the community for generations. The American flag represents pride and unity as the new Emergency Department takes shape.
The signed beam also represents the many people who have played a role in the project, including construction teams, healthcare leaders, staff and community members. Together, their names serve as a reminder of the many hands and hearts behind this project.
The new Emergency Department is designed to meet the growing need for emergency care in the region.
“This ceremony may be about steel and concrete, but the project is about something bigger, access to high-quality emergency care for our region,” said Jason Shenefield, president and CEO of Phelps Health. “The Emergency Department is the front door to care for our six-county region, where people turn in life's most critical moments.”
Phelps Health’s Emergency Department sees more than 35,000 patients each year, with more than 100 patients visiting on many days.
The new space was designed with patients, families and care teams in mind. Plans include larger and more useful spaces for triage and waiting, dedicated spaces for patients in a behavioral health crisis, upgraded trauma bays, a private room for families facing loss and a quiet space for staff.
“Every design decision that was made had one question in mind, and that's: what does emergency care need to look like in the future?” said Keri Brookshire-Heavin, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer at Phelps Health. “The design was shaped by input from our clinicians and our physicians so that it is what our patients and staff need to take care of our patients.”
So far, more than 2,100 cubic yards of concrete have been poured and about 616 tons of steel have been put in place. Another 1,900 cubic yards of concrete is expected to be poured later this year.
With the steel frame now in place, construction will move into the next phase of the project. Crews will continue work on the building’s walls and inside spaces as they prepare the new facility to care for patients.
The new Emergency Department will serve the community for years to come.