New Healthcare Projects Progressing in 2009 on Birmingham Medical News

New Healthcare Projects Progressing in 2009

By: CATHY DELOZIER

Computer generated rendering of new Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children

Reflecting the increasing need for healthcare, several local medical facilities recently announced major building projects. The new Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children is set to replace Children's Hospital of Alabama with more beds and expanded services by 2012. Trinity Medical Center plans to move from its current location on Montclair Road to the previously unoccupied digital hospital on Highway 280 in 2011. Baptist Health Systems plans a major expansion of their Princeton campus and a new professional office building in Hoover. Somerby at St. Vincent's One Nineteen is an active retirement community on nine acres currently under construction.

Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children

Construction is set to begin early this year on the 700,000 square foot, $480 million replacement facility just north of the current Children's Hospital campus. Housing 57 more beds than the 275 now being used, the medical center will be renamed the Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children, for Benjamin Russell's grandfather. "Ben and Luanne Russell have for many years had a passion for helping children with special needs, especially the children of Alabama. Their $25 million lead gift continues this life-long commitment the Russells have for helping families in stress due to child related health issues," says Tom Lamberth, president and COO of Russell Lands, Inc.

"We will be expanding our services across all specialties," says Children's Health System's Executive Vice President Mike McDevitt. "Increasing our space helps us fulfill our mission to grow to meet higher demand." The new hospital's operating rooms and intensive care units are designed to allow physicians to perform cardiovascular surgery and solid organ transplants, complete with pre and post-operative procedures under the same roof. Currently, these surgeries are performed around the corner at the UAB Medical Center, with pre and post operative procedures taking place at Children's. "Having the physical plant to support our growth will put us in the top ten of full-service Children's Hospitals in the country. We're one of the busiest now, but because of these off-site surgeries, we're not considered full-service," McDevitt says.

Patients' families will experience a smoother transition as on-site caregivers in the new facility with the addition of a business center equipped with the latest technology, more laundry and lactation areas, and private rooms with 24-hour visitation. McDevitt says, "We want there to be a seamless, cultural, as well as physical, welcoming into the care environment for our families. The average stay is four to five days, which even under the best of circumstances, can disrupt the juggling act that is family life."

Trinity Medical Center Moving

"The new Trinity facility will be a beacon for professional medical care for Birmingham, the state of Alabama and the United States," says Trinity Chief Executive Officer Bill Heburn. The previously unoccupied digital one-million-square-foot hospital with 398 licensed beds on highway 280, will replace the current Trinity campus that has medical offices and 560 beds housed in 650,000 square feet. "We'll be able to get more sophisticated work done in a better environment," Heburn says.

The 12-story glass-sided building, which is remarkably sound-proof, has four medical/surgery floors that are finished and move-in ready, and the entire operation has been climate controlled while vacant. Special attention was given to design features for the benefit of patients, as well as medical personnel. Electrical panels in each private room are visible from open doors, allowing nurses to see monitors and IVs by walking down the hall without entering and disturbing patients. When they do need to enter patients' rooms, hand-washing sinks just inside each doorway reduce chances for contamination and infection. Enclosed alcoves outside each pair of rooms provide a convenient and confidential workspace for marking charts.

In each high-traffic doorway near elevator bays, an electronic monitoring device scans medical equipment, such as wheel chairs and crash carts, to track their locations. Cables and wiring for electronics are pre-hung from the ceilings for the 31 new operating rooms that are all the size of open-heart surgery rooms. Large interstitial space between floors accommodates robotics and any future technological advances to be incorporated.

"By moving into this existing work of art, we are able to save tens of millions of dollars in construction costs that could not possibly be replicated in 2002 dollars. This is a plus for all of Birmingham to have this facility fulfill its original intention," Heburn says.

Baptist Health Systems Growing

Baptist Medical Center recently announced a $75 million renovation and expansion of the surgery suites and other areas at the Princeton campus, as well as new construction on a 60,000 square foot professional office building (POB) in Hoover near the I-459 and Highway 150 intersection. The POB is a joint venture that will house a full-service diagnostic center and office space for primary care physicians. "We are fortunate to have strong and committed physicians and nurses. These projects will contribute greatly to their ability to provide the high level of care our patients expect and deserve," says Princeton President Keith Parrott.

The main focus of the Princeton project is the updating of the 14 operating rooms and recovery areas, which includes increasing room size and adding higher caliber wiring for electronic equipment in the 60,000 square foot space. An additional 90,000 square feet for recovery and waiting areas and improved patient access will further Princeton's mission. "The ORs will grow from 350 square feet to 620 square feet each to allow for equipment and better personnel flow," says Parrott. In keeping with new standards, all cables and equipment will be suspended from the ceiling. When completed, a new endoscopy suite will be on the first floor, making pre and post-operative procedures for outpatients more convenient and two more operating rooms will be added. "This project further reflects our continued commitment to meeting the needs of the many communities the hospital serves," Parrott says.

"It has been a real privilege to work with Keith Parrott and the entire project team on the Princeton project," says Dick Richard, project architect and Associate Principal with TRO Jung|Brannen of Birmingham. "Making a meaningful difference for patients and staff is what we're all about, and the project team, including representatives with KLMK, Brasfield & Gorrie, and the hospital administration, has been focused on that, as well. These are interesting times, but balancing fiscal responsibility with an emphasis on patient care is always a challenge we embrace. Those two concepts are not necessarily mutually exclusive."

Somerby at St. Vincent's One Nineteen

Leasing has begun on Dominion Partner's $38 million project, Somerby at St. Vincent's One Nineteen near Greystone in Hoover. Located on a nine-acre site, the 218,000 square foot community will have 208 residential units consisting of 136 independent living apartments, 48 assisted living and 24 Alzheimer's units. "St. Vincent's and Somerby continue to explore and develop how we can jointly serve seniors on our combined campuses. Somerby is the first of its kind in Alabama — an active retirement community located on a health and wellness center campus providing residents 55 years of age and older a wealth of fitness, wellness and other medical opportunities in one location," says Dominion principal John Gorecki.

Somerby is scheduled to open in June 2009 and will offer full-service fine and casual dining; a meeting and conference center; a game room, library, chapel and movie theater; cosmetology services and a convenience store. John Stivender, vice president of Doster Construction Company, which is building the project says, "Somerby is unique. For the most part, residents' can receive everything they need for their health and wellness on one big campus."