Highland Hospital Announces $12M in Construction/ Renovation
Responding to Community Need, Hospital Will Build A Neuromedicine Unit, Add 2 ORs
May 06, 2010
Highland Hospital announces plans for $12 million in construction projects to expand and improve several vital services for the Rochester area community. Construction is slated to begin this summer on two new Operating Room Suites and a new Neuromedicine Unit. In addition, the Perioperative Services (same-day surgery and pre-operative) area will be renovated to enhance patient comfort, as well as efficiency and work flow.
Highland’s Neuromedicine Inpatient Unit will offer specialized care for Neurosurgery and complex head-and-neck surgery patients. The Unit will include 22 beds (including 6 step-down beds) and will integrate Highland’s Neurology and Neurosurgery programs. The project is slated to begin in July and will take approximately 12 months.
Neurological diseases are becoming the top health burden in an aging population. Stroke is the #1 cause of disability and #3 cause of death in the United States. Highland is an ideal location for a specialty Neuromedicine unit; it treats many elderly patients, who are especially prone to neurological disorders, and stroke patients. The hospital is a New York State designated Stroke Center of Excellence.
With the creation of an inpatient Neuromedicine unit, Highland will provide coordinated neurological disease management programs for conditions such as stroke, seizures, normal pressure hydrocephalus and low back pain. Patients will be managed jointly by neurologists, neurosurgeons and pain management specialists.
Highland is adding two new operating suites in response to growing demand for surgeries at Highland. The OR project includes 16,238 sq ft. of renovations and will add two 625-sq ft operating rooms; expand the pre-surgical screening area with an additional exam room; and expand the Sterile Processing Department.
Highland now has 12 ORs and is at capacity/industry benchmark for OR utilization. A key element of the hospital’s strategic planning for the next five years is to expand surgical services across all service lines. This construction project will enlarge the hospital’s capacity to offer surgical services, and enable it to respond to the growing need for care in the community.
Within the last year Highland has completed construction of the Wolk Emergency Department and is wrapping up completion of its Lobby renovation. The Lobby will include additional seating, an Outpatient Pharmacy, a coffee shop and other amenities.