Tucson Medical Center Completes Emergency Room Renovation

BizTUCSONOctober 21, 2026

2 minutes read

Tucson Medical Center has completed a $27 million renovation of its emergency department, enhancing capacity, patient privacy and care in one of Arizona’s busiest emergency departments.

The renovated department officially opened Oct. 19, 2026.

Tucson Medical Center, through its adult and pediatric emergency departments, serves more than 100,000 patients each year. Originally built in 1990, the adult emergency department was designed for a much smaller patient volume and had increasingly relied on hallway beds during periods of high demand. The renovation adds 40 new adult treatment areas, bringing the total number of adult beds to 72 and eliminating hallway beds to provide patients with greater privacy, dignity and comfort.

“The completion of this project represents a significant investment in the health of our community,” said Mimi Coomler, CEO of TMC Health. “Our Emergency Department teams provide lifesaving care every day, and this renovation ensures they have the space, technology and resources needed to care for patients safely and efficiently.”

The redesigned department features a racetrack-style layout that improves patient flow, enhances staff visibility and supports safer, more efficient handoffs from emergency medical services. A CT scanner located directly within the department allows for faster imaging and clinical decision-making, helping care teams diagnose and treat patients more quickly.

The renovation also includes five major medical rooms dedicated to caring for the most critically ill patients and four specialized behavioral health rooms designed for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. These rooms feature ligature-resistant safety features and provide a private, secure setting that supports safe, compassionate care.

The project was made possible through a combination of funding sources, including a $6.3 million investment from Pima County through the American Rescue Plan Act, bond financing, support from donors to the TMC Health Foundation and grant funding. County funding helped support key project components including design, equipment, digital infrastructure, demolition and medical record integration.

“TMC is grateful for the support of Pima County, our donors and community partners who helped make this project possible,” said Josh Lee, interim CEO of Tucson Medical Center. “Together, we have created an emergency department designed to meet the needs of our community today and well into the future.”

TMC Health thanks its construction and design partners, DPR Construction and Grace Design, for their dedication and timely completion of this project.