Inova Opens Fairfax Hospital’s Emergency Department Expansion and EmPATH Unit

On November 12, Ballinger and Ennead celebrated the ribbon cutting of the expanded Inova Fairfax Hospital Emergency Room (ER) and the region’s first EmPATH (Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment, and Healing) unit for emergency mental healthcare. With nearly 175,000 patient visits in 2023, the Inova Fairfax Hospital ER is the fourth busiest emergency room in the nation. The ribbon cutting marks the first phase of Inova’s $161 million ER expansion and renovation to meet the rising volume of emergency visits.

Inova’s commitment to pediatric emergency care is reflected in the redesigned, family-friendly Inova Children’s Emergency Room – the most comprehensive pediatric ER in the region – which will open next month. This specialized expansion will provide a dedicated entrance and welcoming environment tailored to young patients and their families. The reimagined space at Inova Fairfax Hospital includes a separate reception area and calming features to reduce fear and anxiety, enhancing the emergency experience for children and their caregivers.

Inova Fairfax Hospital is also expanding the adult emergency room to better support high patient volumes, reduce wait times, and streamline care. Home to Northern Virginia’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, once complete, the adult ER will nearly double patient capacity, with private rooms to support sensitive medical conditions.

“The expansion of both the adult and pediatric emergency departments is essential to meet the growing needs of our community and provide the level of emergency care our patients deserve,” said Steve Narang, MD, President Inova Fairfax Hospital and Inova Children’s. “More space strengthens our ability to deliver timely, compassionate care in a state-of-the-art environment. We are proud to create an experience that supports patients and families during some of their most critical moments.”

Phase 1 of this project, which will open to patients on December 10th, includes 12 additional Adult ER rooms and nine ER rooms for behavioral health patients, in addition to the EmPATH unit. When the full expansion project is completed in 2028, the adult ER will include an expanded intake area, new technology for swift check-ins to allow Inova to provide emergency care to more patients per hour and rapid access to treatment rooms.

The EmPATH unit, a specialized facility designed to provide a safe, calming environment for patients experiencing a mental health crisis, is in response to community need for enhanced behavioral health services emergency visits. The number of patients seeking behavioral health services at the Inova Fairfax Hospital ER has surged by more than 30% in recent years, underscoring the need for this specialized facility.

“Navigating a mental health crisis is often overwhelming for patients and families alike, especially in the high-stimulus environment of an emergency room,” said J. Stephen Jones, MD, FACS, President and CEO, Inova. “By investing in EmPATH, we are responding to the needs of our patients and community by taking an innovative approach to care in a supportive setting that is more conducive to healing.”

The new EmPATH unit, the first of its kind in Northern Virginia, is based on an evidence-driven model that reduces hospitalizations, minimizes ER wait times, and enhances the overall quality and safety of mental health care. Individuals experiencing a mental health crisis will enter through an Inova Hospital ER where they will be quickly triaged to determine the appropriate level of care, whether to community resources, observation in the EmPATH unit or admission to inpatient care. Research has shown that EmPATH units can achieve a 70%-80% decrease in hospitalization rates, a 90% reduction in boarding, and a shortened length of stay from 24 to 16 hours on average.
The EmPATH unit includes a therapeutic, low-stimulus environment designed to reduce anxiety and promote healing. It is part of Inova Fairfax Hospital’s broader emergency department expansion, which addresses increased demand for both mental health and emergency medical services in the region. By creating specialized areas for behavioral health emergencies, Inova is working to reserve inpatient psychiatric beds for the most acute cases, ensuring each patient receives the right care for them at the right time.

The phased project is part of a multi-campus initiative aimed at establishing a new physical identity, operational standard, and patient experience for Inova. Designed by Ballinger and Ennead, it focuses on occupant wellness with an emphasis on sustainable design principles. A comprehensive and timeless materials palette balances elegance and humility, and unifies the patient experience across Inova locations.