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January 18, 2006
CLEVELAND - The Board of Directors of University Hospitals Health System (UHHS) has unanimously approved core elements of its strategic plan, called Vision 2010. The plan, calling for investments of more than $1 billion over five years, includes significant commitment to the University Hospitals of Cleveland (UHC) campus, new facilities and considerable expansion of services at several System hospitals, additional suburban ambulatory centers and more than $100 million in technological enhancements, including system-wide electronic health records.
"Our Vision 2010 plan represents a milestone for University Hospitals Health System," said
Thomas F. Zenty III, President and CEO of UHHS. "Vision 2010 will be the single largest endeavor that UHHS has undertaken in its history and, as we celebrate 140 years of service to patients, will leave a lasting impression on our community and our health system for decades to come. The new construction, expansion of current services and the introduction of a new electronic health records system exemplify our commitment to our patients, physicians and employees. By approving this plan, our board of directors recognizes that we have returned to solid financial performance and need to plan for our future."
The first phase of the plan includes the construction of a 200-bed, freestanding cancer hospital on the University Hospitals of Cleveland campus, major renovation and expansion of the Pediatric and Adult Emergency Department at UHC, and a new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the internationally recognized Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. Plans also call for the construction of Ambulatory Medical Centers in Twinsburg and Aurora. Further, the cardiovascular facilities at UHHS Geauga Regional Hospital, UHHS Richmond Heights Hospital and UHHS Bedford Medical Center will be expanded, along with orthopaedic facilities and services at UHHS Geauga Regional Hospital.
"An extensive amount of planning went into this vision, as we considered the changing needs of our patients, our communities, our physicians and our employees," said
Christopher M. Connor, Chairman of the UHHS Board of Directors. "This strategic plan truly is a watershed moment in the rich history of University Hospitals Health System, and board members were excited to take a leadership role in developing it."
Vision 2010 considered patient needs, population demographics, and the responsibility to continue developing leading services and facilities - all with an eye toward promoting an environment that provides patients the high level of care that they have come to expect from UHHS.
The 200-bed, 320,000-square-foot cancer hospital will provide access to all of University Hospitals of Cleveland’s nationally renowned inpatient and outpatient oncology services in a single, state-of-the-art, patient-centered facility. The new multi-story hospital will be home to the Ireland Cancer Center and will include radiation therapy, mammography, chemotherapy, surgical oncology, diagnostic services, wellness spaces and counseling, and physicians’ offices. The building will feature specialized clinical areas for specific patient needs while promoting an environment for optimal patient care, cancer research and education. Plans call for construction to be completed by October 2009.
"The building of this cancer hospital helps to further establish our position as one of the premier cancer programs in the nation, where the latest research and therapies are available to all patients," says
Stanton Gerson, MD, Director of the Ireland Cancer Center. "Patients travel from all over the country to receive treatment here, and this building will both reflect and promote the level of care they seek."
In an effort to continue to serve Cleveland and patients in need of emergency treatment, UHC will renovate and more than double the square footage of the emergency departments at UHC and Rainbow. The combined emergency departments, which together are the second busiest in Cleveland, have an annual patient volume of 73,000 adult and pediatric patients.
The 23,000-square-foot emergency department will be expanded to 54,000-square-feet, and the number of available beds will increase from 41 to 70. The emergency department also will have improved patient access and state-of-the art diagnostic and laboratory capabilities to expedite and improve patient care. Construction is expected to begin in July 2006 and will take approximately two years to complete. The UHC Emergency Department project comes amid significant emergency department enhancements at UHHS Geauga Regional Hospital, UHHS Memorial Hospital of Geneva and UHHS Richmond Heights Hospital - all of which were made possible by the considerable financial support of the UHHS donor community.
The new 38-bed NICU at Rainbow, the premier children’s hospital in the Midwest, will unite advanced technology, research and clinical services in a home-like environment with private space for parents to sleep at their child’s bedside. Adjacent to the Level III NICU will be a 44-bed Neonatal Transitional Care Unit that allows babies to graduate from the intensive care setting and transition into a home-like setting where parents learn to handle their medical needs before leaving the hospital. Combined, the units form the largest and most advanced NICU in Ohio. The new NICU will feature a surgical suite and imaging capabilities that enhance the ability to diagnose, treat and, if necessary operate on the tiniest patients near their rooms. World-famous neonatologists at Rainbow are leaders not only in patient outcomes but in groundbreaking research. This project will enable them to continue providing the highest level of care for newborns. The project will start in March 2006 and is expected to be finished in Fall 2007.
"Our 140th year of serving the city of Cleveland promises to be an historic one, and the impact of these projects will reverberate throughout the region and our System for decades to come," said
Fred C. Rothstein, MD, President and CEO of UHC. "We are investing in our nationally recognized programs, such as cancer and pediatrics, while responding to the needs of Cleveland by expanding our emergency department."
The Vision 2010 plan includes targeted expansion of services throughout the region. A 40,000-square-foot outpatient medical center will be constructed just off State Route 82, near Interstate 480, to meet the needs of our Twinsburg-area patients and to accommodate a growing UHHS physician presence. Offerings by this innovative primary care facility will include an urgent care center and pediatric, OB/GYN, family and pain management practices. In addition, it will feature advanced radiology and laboratory services and an expanded corporate health department. A second outpatient center will be located on State Route 43 in Aurora. This facility, still in the planning stages, will provide a significant UHHS presence to serve this growing region.
UHHS Geauga Regional Hospital is embarking on two major initiatives to enhance service capabilities for treating orthopaedic conditions and cardiovascular disease. A new joint and spine surgery unit, slated to open in May 2006, will feature advanced technology for patients undergoing knee or hip replacement surgery, or reconstructive spine procedures. Patients will benefit from computerized navigation guidance systems and special clinical protocols to improve their outcomes in a dedicated 18-bed inpatient center. Outpatient services will include specialized programs in sports health and injury prevention. A new cardiac intensive care unit and renovated cardiac inpatient facilities will strengthen Geauga Regional Hospital’s ability to provide comprehensive care for patients with heart disease. And later this year, UHHS Richmond Heights Hospital and UHHS Bedford Medical Center will open new cardiovascular centers, following extensive projects to enhance and expand services at those hospitals.
Another key component of Vision 2010 is the installation of an electronic health record system that uses new technology to develop and maintain electronic records of patient health information. The system will enhance the quality and safety of patient care by creating a centralized record of relevant medical information, including patient demographics, medication usage, progress notes, past medical history and laboratory data. The system will offer clinical features that prevent duplication of medications and testing and check for allergies and drug interactions.
Vision 2010 was completed following significant, System-wide operational changes that resulted in UHHS’ bond ratings being upgraded by both Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s. The projects will be financed through a combination of operational funds, government funding, long-term debt, and support from UHHS’ donor community.
"Over the past two years, we have introduced an organizational and financial discipline that has helped create a foundation for our future," said Mr. Zenty. "The realization of Vision 2010 is a credit to the commitment of our board members, physicians and employees in their desire to continue to provide the best care to our patients and support the Greater Cleveland community."
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