New burn center approved for UMC

Art Nadler

Wednesday, Feb. 17, 1999 | 11:51 a.m.

The County Commission gave the chief administrator of University Medical Center the green light Tuesday to incorporate a new burn care unit and women's service center into the hospital's renovation plans.

UMC began a five-year $74 million renovation of its facilities at 1800 W. Charleston Blvd. in 1997. The architects said it will need 24 beds in its burn unit by the completion date in April 2002. Currently, it has 12 beds.

The women's center, which handles 4,800 births a year, also will need to be expanded, the architects told the commissioners, who were meeting as UMC's board of trustees. An additional $8 million will be needed to renovate the two facilities, they said.

"These issues are at a point of critical need," UMC board Chairwoman Erin Kenny said. "We are in dire need of a new burn unit and women's services."

William Hale, chief executive officer of the hospital, asked and received approval from the board to issue $56.8 million in 20-year general obligation bonds to pay for part of the renovations. Nearly $15 million from the county's improvement funds has already been invested in the project.

The Lied Outpatient Building was completed last fall in the first phase of the renovation. A new emergency room will be constructed and intensive care unit will be rebuilt by the year 2000.

Phase two will expand the surgery center, creating four new operating rooms and support services. Phase three will involve renovating the present emergency room and expanding the existing pharmacy, patient preparation area and patient waiting room.

The hospital's third floor will be remodeled in phase four, and the final phase will include the construction of a new four-story northeast building to house medical records, more patient rooms, food services and security.