University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque will begin routing all adult emergency care to its new critical care tower on Oct. 5.
The 570,000-square-foot tower includes 68 new beds in the adult emergency department, 96 intensive care beds, 18 operating rooms, and a second helipad, according to a Sept. 26 health system news release. It also features advanced medical technology and training space for health professionals.
The project cost $842 million, a hospital spokesperson confirmed to Becker’s.
The facility’s fourth floor, named the Sky Campus, is dedicated to staff amenities and education, with 22 private rooms for resident physicians, multiple lounges and meeting space.
The expansion supports both clinical and educational missions, Mike Richards, MD, CEO of the UNM Health System and executive vice president of UNM Health Sciences, said in the release.
The tower was first proposed in 2015 and the activation phase began Aug. 1, with staff conducting move-in, training, and simulations ahead of the official transition.
