LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The initial phase of a modernization at UofL Health – UofL Hospital is now open to serve patients, visitors and the entire community. The $186 million, seven-story UofL Hospital West Tower is the hospital’s new front door with a two-story atrium, concierge desk, chapel, coffee shop and gift shop. Beyond the lobby, the tower provides significant upgrades for patient care, adding new surgical suites, inpatient rooms and a 24-bed observation unit to ease demand on one of Kentucky’s busiest emergency departments. Six additional observation beds are located on the inpatient floors.
“UofL Hospital is a hub for critical and acute care, with lifesaving capabilities and innovative treatments to support our community and the entire commonwealth,” said Jason Smith, M.D., UofL Health CEO. “The investment in this tower represents our ongoing commitment to ensure our patients have access to the very best in care, in a healing environment, with an expert team of collaborative and compassionate care givers guiding their recovery.”
More than 1.5 million patients seek care through UofL Health each year, with patients coming from each of Kentucky’s 120 counties and southern Indiana. During the last several years, the facility has regularly operated at 90% capacity or more. The West Tower project adds more than 193,000 square feet to the hospital, a 43% increase. The combined impact of the additional patient rooms and the observation unit creates room for nearly 100 more patients, allowing the hospital to operate at its full licensed inpatient capacity of 404 beds. The new tower also includes the infrastructure to support two additional floors for future growth.
“The West Tower was built to elevate patient-centered care and streamline nursing workflow,” said Shari Kretzschmer, MBA, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, UofL Health chief nursing officer. “Our nurses had significant input in shaping these improvements to ensure care is efficient and compassionate. Patients and families will experience enhanced accommodations, including private rooms. Spacious, thoughtfully designed rooms and open areas create an environment that promotes healing and comfort whether recovering from surgery, illness or injury.”
UofL Hospital is the primary teaching and research hospital for UofL Health, affiliated with the University of Louisville. Its Level I trauma center, one of only two adult trauma centers in the state, includes a comprehensive burn unit and admits more than 4,000 patients each year. The hospital is home to Kentucky’s first Comprehensive Stroke Center and includes UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center.
“This expansion of UofL Hospital is about more than increased capacity. The improved space provides an excellent setting for developing the next generation of physicians, nurses and allied health professionals,” UofL president Gerry Bradley said. “This is the type of first-rate facility that our clinical instructors—and most importantly our patients—deserve.”
The initial opening of West Tower is the first phase in the modernization at UofL Hospital. As patient care units begin to move into new spaces, renovations will begin in existing spaces, including the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and emergency psychiatric services and other specialty units. Full modernization is expected to be completed the next several years.
“Credit for this new chapter in UofL Hospital’s history goes to the team of health care professionals and all the support staff that save and impact lives here each day,” said Ken Marshall, UofL Health chief operating officer. “It’s because of that dedication, the expertise and compassion, so many people turn to UofL Health for help. This expansion prepares us to meet that growing demand for generations to come.”
A mixture of internal capital investment, revenue bonds and private donations funded the West Tower expansion. Those interested in supporting the project are encouraged to visit: Give.UofLHealthFoundation.org/UofL-Hospital-Tower or call 502-587-4710.
