Lake City Medical Center Investing Additional $36 Mil In Improvements
Posted June 2, 2021 11:15 am
Photo: LCMC |
Observer graphic
By
Noah Walker
COLUMBIA COUNTY, FL – With over $10 million invested in the facility over the previous six months to upgrade surgical robotics, additional inpatient imaging technology, and expand the Medical Center's inpatient capacity, the hospital is announcing an additional $36 million for further growth.
This additional $36 Mil investment creates the second phase of enhancements increasing access to high-quality patient care across the region.
On
the heels of a 12-bed inpatient services
expansion, this phase will begin with an
additional ten beds being added to the
hospital's capacity. Construction is slated to
start in the 3rd quarter of 2021 as the 12-bed
unit reaches completion.
With the inpatient unit expansions, Lake City Medical Center will also begin to expand emergency services.
The Emergency Department is slated to expand an additional 18 beds, bringing the total to 42 beds for emergency services. Along with the building expansion, the Helipad will move to a more central location to increase the speed at which critical patients can be transferred.
Along with the expansion of patient care areas, supporting departments will also expand to better serve the scope of medical care in the facility. Several departments will see expansion, including pharmacy, supply chain, food services, and environmental services. This portion of the campus expansion will include a new building to be located to the rear of Lake City Medical Center in the area of the current Helipad.
"In all, this investment will not only create a larger physical footprint on Lake City Medical Center's Campus, it will create a larger healthcare footprint in our North Florida community," Rick Naegler, CEO of Lake City Medical Center, said.
“The increase to 113-beds of inpatient care capacity from the previous count of 91 will be an increase of approximately 25% in just over a year, not including the increased capacity to emergency services.”
“We are proud of our ability to invest in and care for our community continuously even after the tumultuous year of 2020 when there was uncertainty across not just healthcare, but many industries. Our commitment to the health of our community and improvement of human life is a constant calling, and we are excited to continue to place focus on growth to support the needs of the people we serve."
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Noah Walker, a Columbia County resident, is the director of marketing and PR at the Lake City Medical Center.
