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Two Major Hospitals in Colorado Springs Expand Their Facilities

colorado springs, expand their facilities, expansion, growth, health care, major hospitals, medical, memorial hospital north, st. francis medical center,

Colorado Springs’ booming growth has meant that residents in the northern part of the city faced a drive downtown for hospital care – a drive that in an emergency‚ or when a baby is on the way‚ can be frightening.

But soon‚ full-service health care will be close to home‚ as two major hospital systems expand their facilities.

Penrose-St. Francis Health Services‚ founded in 1890‚ comprises Penrose Hospital‚ Penrose Community Hospital‚ St. Francis Health Center and Langstaff-Brown Urgent Care Center.

In 2006‚ the health-care system broke ground for St. Francis Medical Center on a 45-acre site at Powers Boulevard and Woodmen Road.

Due to open in early 2008‚ the 350‚000-square-foot center will include a 158-bed hospital that can be expanded as need grows‚ an ambulatory service building and freestanding physician offices. The total cost of the project will be $225 million.

“When it comes to patient care‚ you have a very under-served population in that area of town‚” says Penrose spokeswoman Tanya Dantzler. “It’s one of the fastest-growing areas of Colorado Springs‚ and so it just makes sense to locate new facilities there.”

The new hospital will offer state-of-the-art women’s and children’s services‚ including neonatal intensive care‚ emergency services‚ in- and outpatient surgical care‚ medical imaging and lab services‚ critical care and a pharmacy‚ among other services.

Memorial Health System‚ founded in 1904 as Memorial Hospital‚ is a completely self-supporting‚ city-owned system. It operates more than a dozen facilities in Teller and El Paso counties and provides more than 477 beds.

Memorial plans to open its new Memorial Hospital North on 82 acres at Briargate Parkway and Union Boulevard. Its campus‚ set to open in 2007‚ will also include a medical office building‚ clinics‚ physician offices within the main hospital building and possibly retail or hotel facilities.

Initially‚ the hospital will open with 89 beds‚ but it is being built to accommodate expansion. The medical center will offer a full range of hospital services‚ including emergency care‚ surgery‚ birth and women’s services‚ diagnostic imaging and outpatient lab‚ rehab‚ and cardiac services.

“Our architecture and design is based around patient care‚” says Chris Valentine‚ Memorial Hospital spokesman. “It’s a different approach. When you walk into the lobby‚ you’re facing a two-story window that frames Pikes Peak. All the patient rooms have beautiful views. Another feature is that all the patient rooms are grouped in oval pods around nursing stations‚ allowing all patients to be within 20 feet of nursing staff. It’s a very patient-friendly‚ serene environment.

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