Council OKs Elkhart General Expansion Plans

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A $74 million proposal to expand Elkhart General Hospital has cleared a key hurdle. The Elkhart Truth reports the city council has unanimously approved the plan, which includes adding surgical suites, private rooms and a helicopter landing pad. The paper reports construction could begin in September or October.

News Release

Originally Posted February 11, 2013

ELKHART, Ind. – Elkhart General Hospital is embarking on a $74 million dollar building project which includes the replacement of existing surgical and endoscopy suites, the addition of hybrid surgery capability and 44 private patient rooms for post-surgery care.

This 150,000 square-foot expansion will provide space for 10 state-of-the-art operating rooms to accommodate both inpatient and outpatient surgeries. Each surgical suite will be approximately 700 sq. ft. in size and equipped with ceiling suspended technology offering the surgeons maximum flexibility for future growth and technology.

“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. “Guiding this project with their clinical expertise is a team of 25 outstanding physicians who have been critical to this initiative.”

“As we carefully plan the design, the team has been considering all aspects of growth and technology, while paying close attention to the comfort and privacy needs of our patients and their families,” said Leonard Kibiloski, MD, FACS, orthopedic surgeon.

The existing surgery suites were built over 40 years ago and the structural limitations of the space made the option of renovation unrealistic to physically accommodate newer technology.

Construction is slated to begin the third quarter of 2013 and projected to be completed by the end of 2015.

Sources: Elkhart General Hospital, The Elkhart Truth