$420 Million Hospital Renovation Under Way

In an effort to meet growing demand, update aging facilities and improve patient care and comfort, Palos Community Hospital has begun Phase 1 of a $420 million construction and renovation project referred to as Palos 20/20.

Palos 20/20, funded through tax-exempt bonds and the hospital's own cash revenues, is the most extensive renovation to the hospital since it was built in 1972. Plans for the update began in 2006. In the past four years, a 600-square-foot parking garage and an expansion of the emergency room were completed.

In June, ground was broken for the central component of the update — a 400,000-square-foot addition to the hospital, slated for completion in 2013.

"It's a very patient-centered project," said Jim Sibley, director of public relations for PCH. "There will now be one convenient location for all the outpatient services with the Center for Short Stay Care."

The massive improvement project also will help support the local economy by creating the equivalent of 164 full-time construction jobs, work for as many as 1,000 tradesmen during the six-year timeline, and a total of 850,000 construction man hours.

The Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board unanimously approved the expansion project in March of 2009.

According to an informational packet from PCH, "The CSSC is an innovative concept in hospital care. Both inpatients and outpatients will receive pre-procedure care within the area. Outpatients will then transfer back to the CSSC from the post-anesthesia care unit or their procedure room, and will remain in Short Stay until they are ready to go home. Inpatients will transfer to a private patient room. New tracking technology [will follow patients] through the entire process so families can be updated on an ongoing basis."

The first floor will feature the Integrated Procedure Services area and will combine surgery, interventional radiology and gastrointestinal/endoscopy procedures in one functionally, physically integrated space. The new building will also house a new 36-bed ICU and 12 advanced operating suites.

Phase 2 of the project will be a renovation of the current hospital and will begin in 2013, or upon completion of Phase 1. The entire project is expected to reach completion in 2016.

When the entire project is complete, the hospital will have 433 total beds, 306 of which will be private patient rooms, allowing each patient at the hospital to have their own room. The remaining beds will belong to specific units, such as intensive care and behavioral health.

Sibley said the addition of private rooms is part a nationwide trend among hospitals.

"There are the privacy concerns," Sibley said. "It also lowers the possibility of infections and transmission and makes for better communication with patients and is more family friendly. It's a major component of the project."

PCH has been in operation since 1972 and services all three Palos communities and Worth. Sibley said patients also come from neighboring communities, including Orland Park and Homer Glen.