With an increasing number of advanced orthopaedic procedures taking place in a busy operating suite, St. Luke’s Hospital is planning a new patient care wing.
Hospital officials plan to build a six-bed replacement facility on the hospital campus, featuring enlarged patient rooms, a state-of the-art gym for physical rehabilitation, a new nurses’ station and a large, comfortable room for family time.
This will be the first major facility upgrade for St. Luke’s since 1991, when a six-bed intensive care unit was added. The hospital was originally built in 1972,
“We’re delivering state-of-the-art care in a 40-year-old building,” said Ken Shull, chief executive officer for St. Luke’s Hospital. “Right now, we are not as efficient as we should be, and we’re not as attractive as we could be. But these plans will allow St. Luke’s Hospital to provide improved aesthetics, efficiency and recovery for our orthopedic patients.
“Even with a dedicated staff who inspire confidence and excellence in patient care, we are faced with an aging facility, cramped patient rooms and small baths with narrow doorways that make it difficult for patients to maneuver,” Shull said. “And that’s just a few of the challenges confronting our staff and patients.”
The N.C. Department of Health Service Regulation is reviewing the hospital’s certificate of need application. Hospital officials look forward to breaking ground by February 2012, and construction should be completed by January 2013.
St. Luke’s Hospital has seen a steady increase in orthopaedic procedures since Brian Rosenberg, MD, opened his solo practice, Rosenberg Bone and Joint, in 2004. Dr. Rosenberg performs advanced procedures for hip and knee replacements, including the direct anterior hip replacement surgery and the “ShapeMatch” knee implant. He is the second surgeon in the United States to be trained and approved to perform this custom fit knee replacement, and he performed the seventh “ShapeMatch” knee replacement in the country at St. Luke’s.
St. Luke’s officials said the hospital is fast becoming a leader in the region for orthopaedic services. According to Shull, orthopaedics now accounts for 50 percent of the surgeries performed at St. Luke’s, which is located in an area of active retirees and Baby Boomers. Dr. Rosenberg’s progressive techniques and individualized patient care have helped attract patients from across the region and across the ocean.
Hospital officials call this orthopaedic patient wing Phase I with intentions to eventually replace the 40-year-old facility. Phase I connects the new wing to the administrative hallway.
The 15,000-square-foot addition is projected to cost $5.6 million. The St. Luke’s Hospital Foundation has already raised $1 million towards the project. Additional funds will be raised by the St. Luke’s Hospital Foundation and through bank financing. No county taxes will be raised or used to support the building project, hospital officials said.
Susan McHugh, chair of the St. Luke’s Hospital Board of Trustees, said that the board has spent a great deal of time considering this project.
“We’ve checked into renovations, but that is cost prohibitive,” McHugh said. “We’ve checked into building a new facility, but that is even more exorbitant. So we’ve determined that a small addition on the current property is the best way for us to take the next step to meet the needs and desires of our community without asking taxpayers to support our efforts.
“Our board, administration, staff and physicians are excited about the plans,” McHugh said. “We believe this project will energize the community for continued support and trust in St. Luke’s Hospital for their healthcare needs.
– article submitted by Kathy Woodham of St. Luke’s Hospital