St. David's South Austin Hospital to be Renamed St. David's South Austin Medical Center
St.
David's South Austin Hospital today announced a $72-million capital
investment for a renovation and expansion project to begin in April
2010. The expansion will increase the hospital by three floors, more
than 100,000 square feet and 25 percent more beds.
In
addition to facility improvements, St. David's South Austin Hospital
announced that it will be renamed St. David's South Austin Medical
Center, effective immediately.
“Since this hospital was founded
more than 25 years ago, it has grown from a community hospital to a
thriving medical center serving a broad geography,” Brett Matens,
interim chief executive officer of St. David's South Austin Medical
Center, said. “Our new name will better identify the hospital's current
and future services to the community.”
Research indicates that
consumers feel the new name is a better fit for this facility, as the
hospital has evolved from a community hospital into a comprehensive
medical center that serves an entire region.
“The expansion will
enhance our current capabilities by providing superior accommodations
for patients and their families,” Matens said. “As the region grows, it
is important to have more physical space to serve our rapidly expanding
region.”
Plans to expand and renovate the hospital include:
- Clinical
improvements: A new three-story patient tower with one floor dedicated
to universal beds for critical care; an expanded, dedicated women's
services area, including a new nursery and Level II nursery;
completely renovated surgical suites, including a new operating room
for general surgery, and new operating rooms dedicated to neurosurgery
and orthopedic surgery; and a new post-anesthesia care unit (PACU).
- Hospitality
upgrades: A new family waiting area outside of the nurseries, more
parking, and additional larger-sized rooms for extended stays or
patients with large families.
- Community resource renovations:
An auditorium that can also be used as a community center; a renovated
chapel; and a remodeled, state-of-the-art dining area with a
full-service food court.
The expansion will necessitate an
increase in nursing staff within the medical surgical areas and
critical care departments, as well as an expected support staff
increase in all ancillary areas.
In 2005, St. David's South
Austin Hospital completed a $50-million expansion project that included
34 new medical surgical beds, a comprehensive cardiovascular center, an
observation unit in the intensive care unit (ICU) and a 360-space
parking garage. Additionally, the lobby registration area and physical
therapy facilities were relocated to increase convenience for patients.
The new expansion project is scheduled to break ground in April 2010, with an estimated completion date of April 2012.
Architectural
plans and interior design for the tower will be led by Nashville-based
Gould Turner Group, Inc. The garage expansion will be led by
Nashville-based Earl Swensson Associates, Inc. The general contractor
has not yet been named.
“This renovation highlights three of the
hospital's top priorities—providing the highest quality healthcare,
ensuring hospital stays are comfortable and convenient for patients and
their families, and offering resources for the community,” Matens said.
“This investment underscores our commitment to growing alongside South
Austin and the surrounding areas, providing an unmatched level of care.”