St. Agnes Hospital plans to be bigger and better in the coming years.
The hospital last week received approval from the Maryland Health Care Commission to begin a $214 million multiyear campus revitalization project. The project includes construction of a new 120-bed patient tower, renovation of 90 patient rooms and expansion of the hospital?s cancer center.
About 85 percent of the campus will be improved when the project is complete in about five years, President and ChiefExecutive Officer Bonnie Phipps said. The project is easily one of the most expensive the hospital has undertaken, she added.
“I think the magnitude and cost of the project says a lot,” Phipps said. “It?s a huge project compared to what we?ve done in the past. As you can imagine, I?m thrilled.”
The St. Agnes Cancer Center will undergo a significant makeover as well, doubling in size, said Dr. Carole Miller, director of the cancer center.
“We?re so excited, because our center has grown significantly over the last five years,” Miller said. “This will be a comprehensive redesign that will provide everything we need for our patients.”
The cancer center will expand in ways that maintain its proximity to radiation and surgery areas of the hospital, Miller said. The center also will add several gardens and large windows to promote patient peace and comfort.
“People in West Baltimore think of St. Agnes Hospital as their hospital,” Miller said. “We?re committed to improving patient care.”
The project follows a $14.9 million renovation begun in 2004 to St. Agnes? emergency department, surgical suites and cardiovascular services. The new plan was submitted to the Maryland Health Care Commission at the end of March and approved late last week.
“This redevelopment plan is consistent with the commission?s state health plan,” said Pamela Barclay, director of the center for hospital services with the Health Care Commission. “We look forward to working with St. Agnes and seeing the project through its completion.”
Construction will help the hospital move toward becoming an all-private-room facility, which helps maintain patient confidentiality and privacy and protect against infections, Phipps said.
The hospital construction should boost the economy and create jobs, she added. The project will take several years to complete, and St. Agnes opted to work with local contractors on the construction.
“We were very conscious about keeping this in the community,” Phipps said.
By the numbers
St. Anges Hospital Fiscal 2006 data:
» 323 available beds
» 799 physicians
» 93,278 patient days
» Net income: $29.3 million
Source: St. Agnes Hospital
