Only able to serve 430 of the 1,000 rehabilitation patients referred in fiscal 2011 because of space constraints, Mercy plans to open a $27 million rehabilitation hospital in 2014 near the Mercy Orthopedic Hospital currently under construction in southeast Springfield.
The proposed hospital at the 3000 block of Evans Road would replace an existing 34-bed inpatient unit on the second floor of the West Pavilion on Mercy’s main Springfield campus, according to plans submitted to the Missouri Health Facilities Review Committee. That panel is expected to make a final decision in early January on the project and officials could break ground in the spring, said Jay Guffey, chief operating officer of Mercy Springfield.
“During the last several years, we’ve continued to see the need grow in the area of rehabilitation,” Guffey said.
The hospital currently houses a regional burn center, drawing in patients from four states, and officials say the new facility is needed to meet the increased demand.
The roughly 63,000-square-foot, 60-bed facility is a joint venture of Mercy and Brentwood, Tenn.-based Centerre Healthcare, which operates five rehabilitation hospitals, including one each in St. Louis and Oklahoma City in partnership with Mercy.
“We feel that they’ve been a great partner with us and we’re going to continue using their expertise in providing care,” Guffey said.
If approved, the hospital – which would be known as Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital Springfield – would include specialized units for patients with brain and spinal injuries. It also would have an apartment where patients and families could practice daily living tasks, in addition to gymnasiums with high-tech therapy devices and treatments.
Officials project admissions for the new hospital at 730 in 2015 and more than 1,200 by 2017.
The proposed building is nearly three times larger than Mercy’s current facility at its South National Avenue campus, where 1,000 patients are currently referred each year. However, the 20,480-square-foot space wasn’t designed as a rehab unit and is operating under large space constraints. The rehabilitation hospital already has received the backing of Greene County commissioners, who sent a letter of support to the state. Presiding Commissioner Jim Viebrock said the impact Mercy continues to make in the community is important, especially in difficult economic times. “They’re making big expansions and that keeps our construction workforce working and then when the buildings are done, the medical staff is employed there, so it’s a great investment in our community,” Viebrock said. “It’s more than just being a hospital. They provide things for civic organizations, and they donate care for individuals who can’t afford it.”
Guffey noted Mercy’s $116 million orthopedic hospital is making good progress with plans to open in September. Work on the building’s roof and walls are complete, he said, with internal development moving forward.
Earlier this year, Ozarks Technical Community College officials donated a vehicle for the orthopedic center that will be used as part of rehabilitation activities for patients at the facility.
“Returning to routine activities – like getting into a car – can create anxiety for patients after major knee and hip replacement surgeries,” said David Globig, Mercy Springfield’s vice president of operations. “The car will assist our orthopedic team in ensuring every patient is comfortable before they return home.”
The 200,000-square-foot, four-story building being constructed by St. Louis-based McCarthy Building Cos. Inc. is expected to have 48 rooms with eight operating rooms, inpatient and outpatient pharmacies and on-site imaging capabilities for MRIs, CTs, ultrasounds and diagnostic radiology. He added it will be a benefit since Mercy continues to see an increase in the number of people coming to Springfield for medical needs, especially with a recent partnership with Wal-Mart Stores for spine care.
The partnership allows Mercy Hospital Springfield to provide spinal surgeries at no cost to Wal-Mart associates and their covered dependents. In addition, Wal-Mart also will pay for health care-related travel, lodging and food expenses for employees and dependents enrolled in the company’s medical plans.
“We’re going to see an increase in volume in services needed,” Guffey said. “We’re excited about getting that program up and running.”
This installment of Springfield Business Journal’s Architects & Engineers Project Report showcases 26 endeavors by area design and engineering professionals.
