Fresno Heart & Surgical begins expansion
Fresno Heart & Surgical Hospital began construction in mid-August to add two advanced-technology, minimally-invasive operating suites, a 144-seat education center and more space and beds to the surgery recovery area. The expected completion is September of 2008.
The new operating rooms will allow the hospital to do up to 2,400 more surgeries a year, doubling the number of surgical cases done annually, said Wanda Holderman, the hospital’s chief executive officer.
Since the beginning of the year, the number of surgeries has risen dramatically pushing Fresno Heart & Surgical’s capacity, making it necessary in some cases to schedule surgeries on weekends and into late evenings. Holderman told Community Medical Centers’ board the hospital’s reputation for excellent customer service, award-winning quality and a hotel-like atmosphere have increased demand by both patients and physicians. Several surgeons have expressed interest in using the new suites when they become available, she explained.
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| Construction began in mid-August to add two advanced-technology, minimally-invasive operating suites featuring 40-inch, high-definition plasma screens and voice-controlled computers and equipment. |
Community’s board approved $600,000 to start the expansion project expected to total $8.3 million for construction and additional equipment.
Holderman stressed that hospital operations will continue as normal during the remodeling. “We are doing everything we can to have the least disruption possible for physicians, staff and for patients,” she said.
Construction firms working on the project were a part of the team that built the hospital just four years ago and are experienced with hospital operations. They are accustomed to working closely with the hospital’s infection control department in monitoring construction to make sure the environment is safe. Project management will be handled by Community’s construction management team headed by Mark Mathieson.
The hospital is designing the new surgery suites for minimally-invasive procedures such as bariatric weight-loss surgery, gall bladder and hernia repairs, and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) surgery.
The suites will feature Stryker Endo-Suite® OR integrated systems that include 40-inch, high-definition plasma screens and voice-controlled computers and equipment. Surgeons will not only get a clearer view inside the body as they’re operating, they can directly control medical devices rather than having assistants push buttons on their command.
Cameras inside the suites’ surgical lights and in hand-held wands inserted into the body will capture both video and still shots that are displayed on flat screen monitors and can be sent via the hospital’s secure network to other specialists for immediate evaluations. And surgeons will also be able to view pathology reports, imaging from patients’ files at remote locations and teleconference with doctors elsewhere for immediate second opinions in rare cases.
The new suites and high-tech equipment are designed to allow surgeons to perform operations in less time, shorten the time patients are under anesthesia and improve outcomes, said Holderman.
The new 144-seat education center will host seminars for those considering weight-loss surgery, general education sessions on numerous health care issues, plus medical lectures for staff and local physicians. The space is being designed so it can be divided into two conference spaces, said Julie Cleeland, executive director of business development and marketing for the hospital.
Other changes anticipated during the construction project include relocating catheterization labs, moving various support departments, creating a new room for moderate sedation procedures such as endoscopy and expanding the pharmacy in anticipation of additional pharmaceutical regulations and to accommodate growth. The hospital will also be adding new security badge readers throughout the hospital to improve security and better assure patient privacy and controlled access.
This story was reported by Erin Kennedy. She can be reached at ekennedy@communitymedical.org.