Beacon Celebrates Elkhart General Surgery Expansion
Elkhart General Hospital is celebrating its single, largest expansion in its history. Made possible in part through Elkhart’s affiliation as Beacon Health System, this 165,000-square-foot, $83 million surgery expansion project, is highlighted by leading-edge surgical suites, the newest medical technology, 43 all-private patient rooms, and a one-of-a-kind patient environment. This project continues Beacon’s mission to provide exceptional, compassionate and innovative health care to the community.
This expansion is made in honor of prominent Elkhart and Michiana citizen, Art Decio. To celebrate Art, Beacon Health System will hold a special ceremony where the area within the hospital that houses the new surgery center will be renamed the Arthur J. Decio Pavilion.
The surgery expansion will provide space for 11 state-of-the-art operating rooms, including one hybrid operating room, and three endoscopy suites for inpatient and outpatient surgeries. Ten of the surgical suites are 700 square feet in size and equipped with ceiling-suspended technology, which offers maximum flexibility for future growth and technology. The 43 all-private patient rooms that make up the Post Surgical Care Unit combine the most advanced technology available, with the comfort and security patients need to heal and recover.
The existing surgery suites were built more than 40 years ago, making renovation an unrealistic option when it came to accommodating the latest technologies. This new facility will allow Elkhart General surgical staff to care for an even broader range of injuries and illnesses, and increase recruiting opportunities for new surgeons and specialists.
“Keeping future technological changes in mind are critical when designing surgery suites because medical breakthroughs occur so rapidly,” said Greg Losasso, President of Elkhart General Hospital.
Key features of the new surgical suites include:
Surgical Floor –Expansive surgical suites and ample space for support services. Family members will be able to track their loved one’s progression through the surgical process via monitors and/ or through text messages.
Post Surgical Care Unit – 43 spacious private rooms for those who need to stay for a day or more following their procedure. Rooms include a pullout couch and comfortable seating for family. Benefits of private patient rooms can include faster recovery times and increased patient satisfaction.
Helistop – A helistop on the roof will speed the care of critically injured patients in Elkhart County.
Central Sterile Processing – This new area will have state-of-the-art decontaminators, sterilizers, a cart washer and prep tables with computers that aid in assembling and tracking instrument sets.
Surgery Prep/Hold Area – With 23 beds/chair bays, and designed to accommodate family or significant others, this is where patients receive any needed pre-surgical medications or tests.
Surgery/Endoscopy Suites – 10 operating rooms, which are double in size from the current rooms. ORs have high ceilings that allow equipment to be located above the surgical team on movable booms.
Hybrid Operating Room – A hybrid operating room combines imaging services and surgical procedures in the same space. Having multiple technologies available inside the operating room will allow for safer and more convenient access to medical imaging services for patients and medical staff.
Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) – Patients go directly to the 14-bed PACU after procedures if they’ve had an anesthetic or need to be monitored.
“As our community’s strongest advocate for health and well-being, we are proud of our commitment to providing world-class health care to Elkhart County,” said Phil Newbold, Chief Executive Officer of Beacon Health System. “This expansion is the essential next step to keep us at the forefront of patient care.”
Philanthropic naming opportunities are available throughout the new space. To learn more, please contact the Elkhart General Hospital Foundation at 574-524-7458.
