The St. Charles Health System Board of Directors recently voted to approve a new scope for the tower project after a core team of caregivers spent time reviewing the plan to ensure the space would meet the most community needs possible the day it opens.
Highlights of the decision include:
- The tower will be a three-story building
- Twenty-four ICU beds will be built on the first floor
- The second floor will have 28 inpatient beds
- Shell space will be constructed on the lower level
- The current ICU will be reserved for future ICU expansion of eight beds if needed
“I’m proud of the team for taking the time to look at this project critically and coming back with an option that maximizes the $66 million, fulfills our commitment to provide greater critical care capacity to the region and results in more beds being available for less intensive care needs,” said Jenn Welander, chief financial officer for St. Charles Health System. “This new scope ensures we are meeting our patients’ needs, while also being fiscally responsible.”
Construction on the utility portion of the project will begin in early July. Portions of the Loop Road will be shut down over the next few months and caregivers will be asked to park in the new O and P lots on the east side of the hospital to save parking spaces near the Rehab entrance for patients.
The new tower is scheduled to open in spring of 2019.
About St. Charles Health System
St. Charles Health System, Inc., headquartered in Bend, Ore., owns and operates St. Charles Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond. It also owns family care clinics in Bend, Madras, Prineville, Redmond and Sisters. St. Charles is a private, not-for-profit Oregon corporation and is the largest employer in Central Oregon with more than 4,200 caregivers. In addition, there are more than 350 active medical staff members and nearly 200 visiting medical staff members who partner with the health system to provide a wide range of care and service to our communities.
