On Wednesday, a new 26-bed inpatient unit opens on the third floor of the Ridgeway Tower at 3200 Burnet. The expansion includes the addition of radiology/diagnostic imaging, laboratory and food services in Ridgeway Tower.
The project significantly expands access to the high-quality, specialized medical care for which UC Health is known.
“Growth and access is at the core of our strategic direction at UC Health,” said Ann Smith, senior vice president of inpatient services for UC Health. “The addition of patient care at Ridgeway—part of UC Medical Center—allows us to meet the needs of our patients and visitors by offering the right level of care to the right patient at the right time, every time.”
3200 Burnet is located across the street from UC Medical Center, and UC Health has been working for more than a year on this most recent addition of patient care services in the facility.
In 2016, psychiatric care units opened on the fifth and sixth floors of Ridgeway Tower, followed by a low-acuity patient unit on the fourth floor. The third and fourth floor unit now will serve high-acuity patients, and the addition of radiology, laboratory and food services represents a significant investment in patient care.
“The new unit will serve the complex needs of our patients and will mirror the care we provide on one of our medical-surgical floors at UC Medical Center,” said Rick Shumway, chief administrative officer of UC Medical Center. “To meet those needs at the highest level, we will also open a radiology suite on the A-level of Ridgeway as well as a full-service laboratory and a kitchen for onsite provision of food service to our patients and their visitors.”
The expansion will grow capacity and also help UC Health accommodate more transfers from local community hospitals.
3200 Burnet is uniquely equipped to serve patients; for many years, it was home to the former Jewish Hospital.
The expansion represents a $22 million investment in patient care, including construction and new equipment. UC Health expects to hire 63 new employees, including nurses and respiratory therapists.
The patient care unit, laboratory services and several radiology services opened this week. Services will continue to be added to the radiology/diagnostic imaging area, with outpatient services expected to begin in the spring.
In all, UC Health now provides 92 patient beds in the Ridgeway Tower, which is located at the north end of 3200 Burnet across the street from UC Medical Center. Additional growth is expected in the future.