Spectrum Health United Hospital in Greenville Announces $9.61 Million Expansion and Renovation

Spectrum Health United Hospital President Paul Bonis announced a $9.61 million plan today for new construction and renovations to all of the outpatient service areas of the hospital, including a new Emergency Department. Also included will be significant renovations and improvements to patient access (registration) and diagnostic imaging, including a dedicated women’s imaging center. The project is expected to take 18 months to complete. An official start date has yet to be determined as the project awaits State of Michigan Certificate of Need Approval.

A generous and significant gift received by Blanche Ash came at a critical time in the planning cycle and was instrumental in solidifying the project while demonstrating a strong showing of community support for the expansion project. Mrs. Ash’s late husband, Stanley Ash, served on the hospital board and was an influential advocate for the current Emergency Department. Upon completion, the Spectrum Health United Hospital Emergency Department will be named the Stanley and Blanche Ash Emergency Department. It is significant to note that the hospital will not incur any additional debt to finance this project. The project will be financed fully through ongoing operations, the significant gift provided by Blanche Ash and additional community support.

The announcement represents another installment of the Master Facilities Plan which was strategically set in motion in 2004. Significant growth in volumes and services make this expansion critical to United Hospital’s mission to provide world class health care to the local communities it serves. Strategic improvements began in 2004 with the opening of the Hendrik & Gezina Meijer Surgery & Patient Care Center project. These improvements have played a significant role in enabling United Hospital to achieve significant growth, and national recognition in the areas of quality, safety, patient experience, staff and physician engagement and financial performance, including being named one of the Top 100 hospitals in the nation by Thomson Reuters in 2011.

“These facility developments along with ongoing enhancements and additions to our patient service offerings has led to sustained growth and improved quality and safety across the hospital,” said Spectrum Health United Hospital President, Paul Bonis. “We have seen significant increases in our patient volumes across all of our service lines.”

The number of yearly emergency room visits at United Hospital has increased from approximately 12,500 visits in 2003 to an expected 30,000 visits by 2012.

When United hospital was constructed in 1952, the overwhelming nature of care was inpatient based and the hospital was designed to accommodate this mode of care. Today, because of new technology and advanced medical techniques, 70% of United Hospital’s business is now performed on an outpatient basis. This renovation will make the necessary changes to address this evolution in healthcare, allowing hospital outpatient areas to be more efficient, private and patient friendly.

Bonis believes this expansion will set the stage for further growth and economic development in the Greenville area.

“This is a necessary and significant investment in our community at a critical juncture for Greenville and our surrounding communities. Investing now in the core services of our community such as our schools and our hospitals, even in these difficult economic times, will pay huge dividends for the growth and prosperity of our community well into the future,” said Bonis.

Project Scope: Spectrum Health United Hospital Emergency Department

The emergency department at Spectrum Health United Hospital will be upgraded and enlarged in order to meet the demands of existing patient volume as well as provide capacity for expected future growth.

The project includes renovations of both the existing 5,095 square feet as well as the creation of an additional 7,611 square feet to support needed treatment rooms and support space. The additional space has been designed to maximize the use of available property, directly adjacent to the current emergency department.

The expansion will increase current patient treatment areas from 11 to 28. Additionally, the emergency department expansion and renovation will include:

Three trauma bays with direct access from the ambulance entrance
Two gynecology rooms
An orthopedic treatment room
Sixteen private exam rooms
An isolation room
A patient holding room
Four observation rooms
A new faster and safer CT

All treatment bays will be private. The 140 square foot rooms will include a caregiver zone, a patient zone and a family zone. The exam rooms will be designed to maximize flexibility patient convenience and operational efficiency.

An additional, crucial aspect of the plan includes the relocation of the CT scanner and other imaging equipment to space directly accessible by the ED. This will minimize time needed to provide emergency patients with vital diagnostic services required.

Project Scope: Spectrum Health United Hospital Patient Access and Diagnostic Imaging

Patient registration will be relocated closer to the front doors of the hospital. The goal is to make patient registration more accessible and confidential. Patient check in and registration will be completed in the privacy of spacious enclosed areas ensuring privacy and comfort during this process.

Diagnostic imaging will undergo a complete transformation in order to support the department’s current and future needs. Rooms and hallways will be expanded and designed to accommodate new technology and increase patient flow. The new imaging area also includes a dedicated women’s center, complete with separate changing and waiting areas to create a more dignified and private treatment area for female patients. Additionally, dedicated spaces for digital mammography, stereo-tactic biopsy, Dexa (densitometry) and ultrasound will be included within the women’s center.

About Spectrum Health United Hospital
Spectrum Health United Hospital, located in Greenville, Michigan, is committed to providing excellent personal care and service through state-of-the-art technology and qualified, caring professionals. Spectrum Health United Hospital provides local access to quality care through the region’s largest health care system. In 2011, Spectrum Health United Hospital was named one of the 100 Top Hospitals in the nation by Thomson Reuters. Learn more at spectrum-health.org/united.

About Spectrum Health
Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which includes nine hospitals and 180 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group and West Michigan Heart, physician groups totaling more than 600 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with 625,000 members. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with more than 17,700 employees. The organization provided $115.9 million in community benefit during its 2010 fiscal year. In 2010, Spectrum Health was named a Top 10 Health System by Thomson Reuters.