Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago has filed an application with the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board in hopes of building a new tower, with more than 200 beds, on its downtown campus, according to the Chicago Tribune.
According to the June 27 application, plans include the addition of medical/surgical beds, ICU beds and the consolidation of oncology services from five buildings across the hospital campus. It would also include an oncology triage center and operating rooms, as well as offer infusion and diagnostic imaging services.
“These changes will allow NMH to both meet growing patient need for high-acuity services, while improving patient experience and creating a central hub for one of the world’s best comprehensive cancer networks,” Northwestern wrote in the application.
Northwestern also added that “without additional medical/surgical and ICU beds, capacity-constrained conditions will continue. As in other years of high demand, lack of medical/surgical and ICU bed availability has caused significant backups in the emergency department which has led to excessive ED wait times, approximately 10,000 patients per year leaving the ED without being seen, and beds not being available to receive patients from other hospitals needing transfer to NMH for specialty services.”
The project would also allow expansion of oncology, cardiovascular, neurosciences, and transplant programs, as well as surgical and ambulatory platforms, according to the application.
The application does not mention the total estimated project cost, with construction. However, Northwestern estimates design services at $56.2 million, paid for using cash and securities.
In a communication with Becker’s, Northwestern spokesperson Chris King declined to comment, citing that the application is under state review.
The project would be located on now-vacant land that once housed the Chicago VA Lakeside Hospital, which NMH purchased from the federal government in November 2004.
The downtown campus currently includes Prentice Women’s Hospital, Feinberg Pavilion, Galter Pavilion, Olson Pavilion, Arkes Family Pavilion, Lavin Family Pavilion and other facilities and physician offices.
