Tangipahoa hospital expanding

North Oaks Health System in Hammond is expanding its emergency room and doing other improvements in a $9.3 million project.

The Daily Star reports the work should be completed by spring 2013 at the facility in Tangipahoa Parish.

Senior Vice President and Operations Office Michael Watkins said design work took a year.

The 27,450-square-foot expansion of the emergency room will double its size and should relieve long wait times for patients, Watkins said.