Phase One Renovations Begin at KCH
Phase One of a three-year renovation project has begun at KCH. The first phase of the master plan includes construction of a new 9-bed ICU Unit and a 5-bed progressive care unit to be located directly above the Emergency Department. The building to the right of the Emergency Department will be renovated to relocate the Sleep Center and support services. The surgery area will also be renovated. Anticipated benefits from the multi-year project include increase in usable bed count, increase in usable operating rooms, growth in admissions and surgeries and increase in patient privacy.

WARSAW, Ind. (May 11, 2010) – Kosciusko Community Hospital officials announce that the first phase of a three-phase expansion plan has begun as part of an ongoing facility transformation that will result in all private rooms and an expanded surgical area resulting in greater comfort and convenience for patients and guests.

Phase I includes renovating 27,011 square feet of the hospital which will take nine months to complete. Finishing the first phase of construction will allow KCH to accelerate its conversion of existing rooms from semi-private to private. Plans call for public and patient access to the hospital to be virtually unchanged during Phase I construction.

When the first phase is finished in the fall 2010, a new nine bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and a five bed Intensive Care Progressive Care Unit will be housed above the current Emergency Department. The new ICU will be equipped with new beds including one bariatric equipped room, state of the art cardiac monitoring equipment and ventilators, family accommodations, family lounge and Chapel.

The 14,626 square foot building adjacent to the Emergency Department will house the recently accredited Sleep Center offering patients a quiet, comfortable testing area. Other service areas to be housed in the new addition include Medical Records, Education, Case Management, Compliance and Medical Staff Services. The Medical Staff Lounge will move into this area to provide room for additional surgical space.

The surgical area renovation, also a part of Phase I, involves 2,965 square feet of space to include new Surgery Department storage, a surgery corridor, staff lockers and utility areas that will provide necessary space for an expanding Surgery Department.

“Bedside care has changed extensively since KCH opened 34 years ago,” said Stephen R. Miller, chief executive officer, Kosciusko Community Hospital. "Today, we utilize advanced technologies in patient rooms to deliver care and education to patients with increasingly complex needs. Enhancing privacy and expanding space throughout the entire hospital allows our physicians and staff to provide a positive experience for patients and their families."

The three-phase renovation plan is the largest project in KCH history in terms of total reinvestment and room renovation. Approximately one-third of the hospital will undergo extensive renovation.

"Maintaining the highest level of patient care and service during and after construction has been at the forefront of this planning process," said Joan Darr, KCH chief operating officer. "We are very pleased that the architects and contractors are helping us implement a plan that allows the public to access the hospital with minimal inconvenience to patients, guests and medical staff."

Design services for the project are being handled by MSKTD & Associates Inc. The general contractor is Weigand Construction. Phase II of the renovation plan is scheduled to begin in 2011 and will complete the transition to private rooms. Phase III will begin in 2012 with continued renovations in non-patient areas. Plans for an open house are scheduled for October following the completion of Phase I.