WellSpan Health today announced a $255 million investment in critical and surgical care at WellSpan York Hospital, expanding access to advanced specialty care for complex conditions in central Pennsylvania.
The centerpiece of the project will be the construction of a new, eight-story surgical and critical care tower, which will dramatically expand the hospital’s intensive care unit as well as develop new state-of-the-art surgical suites, making it one of the top 10 largest hospitals in Pennsylvania with more than 600 beds.
“This project will build upon WellSpan York Hospital’s reputation as a regional destination for the most advanced care for patients with complex medical conditions,” said John Porter, executive vice president and chief operating officer, WellSpan Health.
According to Steve Hovis, chair, WellSpan Health Board of Directors, York Countians have chosen WellSpan York Hospital as their home for advanced specialty care for 140 years.
“If you or your loved one is seriously injured or sick, you’re taking them to WellSpan York Hospital,” he said. “We’re honored that so many of our friends and neighbors choose WellSpan for their care. This significant investment will allow us to continue to meet the changing needs of our community.”
Operating Suites Expansion
The new state-of-the-art surgical suites will be greatly expanded from their current size to accommodate the latest robotic surgical and advanced medical technology. The design includes expanded anesthesia space within the operating suites.
“In the expanded operating rooms, our clinicians will be able to utilize state-of-the-art pain management techniques that will help to reduce the need for opioid and pain medicine after procedures and decrease the length of hospital stays for our patients,” explained Porter.
The project also involves expansion of pre-and-post-operative care space for surgical cases. Expanding this area allows for more efficient use of the operating rooms, getting patients to their recovery beds faster. The expanded space will also be designed to offer greater patient privacy and reduced noise levels to promote a healing environment.
Intensive Care Unit Expansion
The critical care capacity at the hospital will increase 60 percent – from 60 intensive care unit (ICU) beds to 96 – when the expansion is complete. The ICU will be located near the operating rooms in the tower, streamlining the healing process for the most critical patients.
The new intensive care units will also provide a comfortable space for families wishing to stay with their loved ones while in critical care.
The project is expected to take five years to complete with two older buildings on the campus being demolished to accommodate the expansion. An estimated 150 parking spaces will be added to the campus to provide convenient access for patients and visitors.
A Regional Resource for Advanced Specialty Care
This project will support the health system’s growth in specialty care, including WellSpan York Hospital’s Comprehensive Stroke Center – a designation held by just 4 percent of hospitals nationwide and one of only two in central Pennsylvania. Here, care teams coordinate with four other Primary Stroke Centers across WellSpan to offer expertise in stroke treatment.
As a result of the hospital’s ongoing expansion, which has been underway for the past several years, WellSpan York Hospital now boasts:
— The largest Level 3 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the region.
— One of only two Level 1 Regional Resource Trauma Centers in the region.
— One of the region’s most advanced interventional heart and vascular suites.
— A state-of-the-art Emergency Department.
WellSpan York Hospital is considered a high performer by U.S. News & World Report, in neurology & neurosurgery, heart failure, and colon cancer surgery, to name a few.
That reputation is why the hospital is considered a trusted partner in the health of the community, according to Roxanna L. Gapstur, Ph.D., R.N., president and CEO, WellSpan Health.
“We are grateful for the trust our community has placed in WellSpan York Hospital,” Gapstur said. “And we will continue to work toward making southcentral Pennsylvania a healthier place for all of us to live, work and play.”
For more about the expansion and for project updates, visit www.WellSpan.org/YorkFuture.
