Phase I The
University of Kentucky began the add-on construction of the one-million sq. ft. Albert B. Chandler Hospital in May 2008. This was due to a need to modernize the hospital due to the "rapidly changing nature of health care delivery" and other advances, along with a sharp increase in patients. The facility was part of a much larger project: The $450 million patient care facility was constructed as a ten-floor structure. There is currently a four-floor base with an
emergency department,
radiology services, eight new
operating rooms,
same day surgery facilities, a post-
anesthesia care unit, and a recovery area, along with a new lobby, coffee shop, gift shop, and waiting areas. Constructed above this are two separate six-floor patient bed towers. The patient rooms are mostly private and very flexible, in that they can be converted into
intensive care units with ease.
UK Healthcare would save $10 to $12 million by constructing the second patient tower instead of adding it in on a later date. It is also advantageous because the construction plans and cranes would already be in place and that disruptions would be minimal. A state certificate was filed because the hospital saw a record number of patients in December. Accounting for an annual 4.5% growth rate, the hospital would be at 100% capacity by 2011. The hospital, however, has been achieving a 10% annual growth rate. The hospital is currently at 85% capacity. To solve the potential issue of patient crowding, the
University of Kentucky signed a letter of intent to purchase
Samaritan Hospital adjacent to the campus on February 15, 2007. It was expected to hold as many as "100 UK patients" and solve all crowding issues until the construction was completed. The university would operate it for at least ten years but have an option to extend it. Funding for the new patient care facility was generated through existing hospital revenues and bond issues. On May 30, 2007, ground was broken for phase one of the new hospital. == See also ==