Stamford Hospital to accelerate construction

Stamford Health System changed its timetable for completing a new Stamford Hospital, opting to complete construction in a single phase by the spring of 2016.

The organization expects construction to cost $450 million under the new timetable, versus the $575 million it had estimated for a multi-phase construction project that could have lasted as long as 15 years.

“The rationale behind this decision included consideration of the hospital”™s strong financial performance, favorable interest rates, as well as the overall cost savings to complete the plan in a single phase,” said Brian Grissler, CEO of Stamford Hospital, in a prepared statement. “Our goal is to deliver a first-class health care center to area residents as quickly as possible, with plans specifically designed to satisfy the growing needs of our patients.”

The new hospital will include:

Ӣ patient-care units with private rooms and bathrooms, as well as centralized nursesӪ stations for more flexible care delivery;

”¢ an emergency department with separate treatment areas for trauma, cardiac, urgent, behavioral health and pediatric patients; 50 percent more treatment rooms;  and dedicated parking;

Ӣ larger surgical suites to accommodate the latest technology;

Ӣ a new pediatric unit adjacent to the current neonatal intensive care unit to centralize mother-child services;

Ӣ an expansion of the intensive care unit from 16 to 24 beds; and

Ӣ a central location for all heart and vascular services, including electrophysiology, catheterization and interventional labs.

The project is subject to the approval of Stamford”™s zoning board. The hospital recently completed a bond offering that secured $250 million in funding for the project, and expects additional funding from earnings and donations.