Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel had an open house to show off its new cardiac catheterization lab on March 13, unveiling the first completed project in the hospital’s $78 million expansion.
About 100 people registered to take the guided tour through the new lab and to learn about the technology that will be used to help treat patients at the hospital.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)
After seeing the equipment and hearing about its capabilities, James R. Carner was impressed.
“You guys have got a great lab,” said Carner, who is an account executive for Central Payment Corporation.
“I love technology,” he said. “I’ve got no problem with coming in and letting them take care of me – with all of this.
“At least I could rest easy knowing I’d be taken care of, if anything did ever happen to me. That’s awesome,” said Carner, who is also an ambassador for The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce.
Providing high-quality care within the community is the hospital’s aim, said Denyse Bales-Chubb, president and CEO of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.
“I think it’s wonderful to be able to provide the state-of-the-art technology here in Wesley Chapel, for our community and for the people who live here,” she said.
“No one wants to have to travel to get care. They want it right in their backyards.
“You can just have that comfort that you can come here and get taken care of; you don’t have to travel clear downtown,” Bales-Chubb said.
The opening of the new cath lab signals just the beginning of the hospital’s new facilities.
The expansion will be opening in stages, Bales-Chubb said. As a wing or a suite is finished, the state inspectors will be coming in to inspect, so that portion of the expansion can be opened.
“We’re very excited about that. Everything is still on schedule to have everything completed by December 2016,” the hospital executive said.
The expansion includes 62 additional inpatient beds, 17 additional emergency room beds and 18 observation beds.
The expansion involves adding three floors to the hospital’s center wing, and constructing an additional three-story wing that connects the south and center wings.
The expansion involves 111,993 square feet of new construction and 10,834 square feet of renovation.
Besides the additional rooms, the hospital is adding more emergency rooms, surgical suites and shelled space for future growth.
When fully completed, the expansion will yield about 200 more full-time equivalent jobs, Bales-Chubb said.
Besides the tour, there was also a ribbon cutting ceremony with representatives from The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce and the Trinity Odessa Chamber of Commerce.
The hospital also hosted the MEGA Heart Exhibit, giving the community a chance to learn more about heart health in a portable walkthrough heart exhibit.
Those stepping inside the exhibit, could learn about cardiovascular functions, observe examples of various types of heart disease, and see information about some of the latest medical treatments for heart problems.
Published March 16, 2016
