Good Samaritan's commitment to quality and access to care demonstrated through significant improvements in 2019
This year will see the completion of several important projects at Good Samaritan Hospital that represent significant investments of more than $50 million in the care and services available to the community the Hospital serves.
"Our continuous focus on improving services through renovations and investments in the latest medical technologies demonstrates our emphasis on providing access to high quality care," said Joe DeSchryver, chief executive officer of Good Samaritan Hospital. "These enhancements ensure that our patients can stay close to home when seeking the best medical care available and our physicians and caregivers can utilize the latest medical innovations while providing care in updated facilities."
Construction projects have required increased patience when accessing Good Samaritan. The newly expanded and renovated care areas will provide improved technology and access to quality medical care in more comfortable surroundings. Following are the projects scheduled to be completed in 2019:
Phase Two of the $30 million, 35-bed, emergency department expansion project will be completed during the second quarter with total completion of the project during the fourth quarter of 2019.
The renovations will more than double the department's current square footage and provide for faster patient diagnosis and treatment. The Emergency Department's new exterior and interior renovations have all been designed to serve the community with compassionate, quality care. In addition to a new exterior walk-in entry and drop-off canopy for incoming patients, the expanded Emergency Department includes a new ambulance drop-off canopy and five ambulance parking spaces.
Cath Lab Two will receive a hybrid transformation with the addition of the GE Discovery Hybrid, which represents an investment of nearly $7 million and will allow for both diagnostic and surgical interventions.
Cath Lab Four will also receive an upgrade with the addition of the Phillips Azurion 7 biplane - which allows physicians to perform an array of cardiac and vascular interventions. Both projects are slated for completion during the second quarter.
In February, Good Samaritan will replace a CT scanner with a state-of-the-art, 256-slice CT scanner from GE.
The new scanner represents a nearly $2 million investment and allows for the scanning of the heart with a single pass rather that four or 16 passes that is common, older CT scanners. As a result of fewer passes by the scanner, a patient's exposure to radiation can be reduced by 60 percent and in some cases, 90 percent. Also, in the second quarter, a new fluoroscopy unit will be installed, which represents a nearly $1 million investment.
A much-needed expansion of nuclear medicine space that is nearly twice the size of the current square footage of the existing space will open in February.
In March, a $14 million renovation of several areas that are part of Good Samaritan's Women's & Children's Services will begin.
The level III neonatal intensive care unit, labor and delivery and the operating room used for C-section deliveries are the first areas scheduled to receive improvements. As 2019 continues, the focus will turn toward renovating antepartum by creating private patient rooms for expectant mothers.
As projects are completed, this page will be updated. So, check back often.