LewisGale Hospital Montgomery breaks ground on Christiansburg ER

LewisGale Hospital Montgomery leadership gathered with local officials and community healthcare partners Tuesday for a groundbreaking ceremony to officially mark the start of construction for LewisGale Hospital Montgomery Christiansburg ER.

The freestanding emergency room will be the third of its kind in southwest Virginia, following Cave Spring ER and Blue Hills ER in the Roanoke Valley. Located at 1205 West Main Street in Christiansburg, the nearly 10,000-square-foot freestanding emergency room will be staffed by board-certified emergency room physicians and nurses 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It will provide the same services provided in an emergency room that is housed within the walls of a hospital.

“In an emergency situation, minutes matter in relation to patient outcomes,” said Chris Smith, MD, emergency department medical director. “We are poised to offer unparalleled medical care in a convenient location. This can help save lives and enhance patient recovery.”

Designed with patients in mind, the new ER will feature walk-in and ambulance entrances with 11 patient rooms, including a fully equipped trauma bay. It will house advanced imaging equipment for CT scans, X-rays, and ultrasound imaging. The ER will also feature onsite laboratory testing and will be directly linked to LewisGale Hospital Montgomery as a fully integrated department of the hospital.

"With a commitment to community care, we are happy to fill the gap by bringing high-quality emergency services to this part of Christiansburg and the New River Valley,” said Lauren Dudley, LewisGale Hospital Montgomery chief executive officer. “This facility is located just off Interstate 81, equipped to serve its tens-of-thousands of daily travelers, and the growing communities along Route 8 to the south.”

The facility will employ more than 30 staff including emergency physicians and nurses. It is scheduled to open later in 2024 and hiring is expected to begin early next year.