"Consolidation of these services will minimize duplication of services and enhance operational efficiencies in the delivery of acute care and emergency services, while providing an excellent opportunity for replacement of our oldest skilled nursing facility," NGHS President and CEO Jim Gardner said.
Construction on the North Patient Tower began in fall 2006 and was planned to address the growing demand for additional bed capacity. The Medical Center's current total bed capacity is 461 and will increase to 557 when the NPT opens. The NPT will house 96 surgical beds, 32 intensive care beds, a new surgery suite with 23 operating rooms, a new imaging suite and a new endoscopy suite. The expansion will also allow for conversion of all semi-private to private rooms.
"Relocation of services into the NPT will have a domino effect on other services, bringing change throughout the hospital campus," according to Carol Burrell, chief operating officer. "A new wayfinding system is being developed and will be implemented throughout the campus to simplify ease of navigation for patients and visitors."
The North Patient Tower and Women & Children's Pavilion scheduled for completion later this year, will more than double the hospital's square footage. Staffing planning and modeling are already underway and within six months of the NPT opening, the plans will be completed and ready to review with staff.
"The consolidation of services requires careful logistical facilities planning, but our priority is the planning for our highly valued human resources - our employees," said Burrell.
Lanier Park Hospital (LPH), originally owned and operated by Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), opened in 1977. Northeast Georgia Health System bought it in 2001 and has used it for increased bed capacity until additional bed capacity could be constructed on the main campus.
"After examining numerous potential uses of the Lanier Park Campus, we have determined that it is best suited to post-acute care services," said Gardner. "The move will allow the facility to be used by the patient population that prefers it most today - the elderly -largely because of its easy accessibility and navigation. We will relocate skilled nursing beds from New Horizons West on the Dawsonville Highway to the Lanier Park Campus."
Among other assets, this new location will, NGHS officials say, offer an inviting central courtyard that can be viewed from almost any patient room.
While acute care and emergency services space will be reconfigured for skilled nursing care, many of the outpatient services currently located at Lanier Park, including bariatric support services, diabetes education and Wound Healing Center, will remain. All outpatient imaging services will be consolidated to the new Imaging Center under construction on Jesse Jewell Parkway and scheduled to open in 2009.
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http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/3/207990