BISMARCK, ND ( KXNET ) — The Great Dakota Boom has once again hit America’s nicest state.

As many Americans across the country move to North Dakota and Native populations continue to increase, the United States census has recorded record-high population estimates.

As the population continues to grow, infrastructure, including North Dakota’s health services, has to keep up. And that’s what Sanford Health’s new trauma resuscitation bay in Bismarck is all about.

“Bismarck serves western North Dakota, eastern Montana, and North and South Dakota,” said Sanford’s Trauma Medical Director Benjamin Axtman. “We have a huge catchment area, where these critically injured patients come from. They’re coming from hospitals that don’t have the resources to take care of those patients.”

The new bay was born out of months of round tables with medical staff, planning, and investment to ensure that Sanford’s trauma and emergency care can handle an uptick in sick and injured patients. And according to Sanford staff, their previous facility had one main issue: space.

“Sometimes we were so busy, and we just had not enough space to take care of these folks. We had to turn them away from Williston, Dickinson, Minot,” said Sanford’s Emergency Medicine Specialist Stephane Blanchard. “With this [new] space, these rooms will always be open for these people who need us most.”

Trauma and emergency care is for the “sickest patients,” who are at risk of dying in 10-15 minutes. This type of care sometimes requires upwards of 20 medical staff in the same room to treat one patient.

To maximize their efficiency, their previous facility has grown into the trauma resuscitation bay, where — thanks to the guidance of medical staff — any equipment they need is at arm’s length, and the room is spacious enough for more than 10 staff to be in there at once.

Through this, Sanford Health staff are able to continue investing in the community.

“This space allows for us to utilize our resources efficiently and expeditiously,” said Axtman, “to get improved patient outcomes.”

The bay is set to open next week.

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