WAUSAU, Wis. — Aspirus Wausau Hospital is expanding its emergency department, hospital officials announced Monday. Construction started July 31.

Through the expansion, the emergency department will have additional and larger rooms. Right now, there are 18 rooms in the department; when the project is complete, there will be 30. AWH will keep its current rooms and there will not be any disruption to available services, according to hospital officials.

AWH’s emergency department will also gain an additional triage room and critical care rooms. The expansion will also improve patient parking and offer enhanced energy efficiency equipment — which includes heating, cooling and lighting.

The department will also have a larger waiting room thanks to the expansion.

Existing space will also be remodeled.

“We’ve seen a growing need for emergency services at Aspirus Wausau Hospital,” said Robin Rudie. “We have an excellent staff of medical professionals here and we need to make sure they have the optimal space to treat our patients.”

Rudie is Aspirus’ associate chief nursing officer.

The 29,500-square-foot expansion project is scheduled to be executed in three phases, over about two years.

AWH said the expansion project will “address present and future constraints on emergency care in Wausau and the surrounding communities by nearly doubling the current space.”

AWH said there may be parking and entrance changes for patients. The hospital will post signage to help patients navigate those changes during the remodel.