Rockcastle Regional Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Ky., is expanding its respiratory care center.
Here are six things to know about the expansion.
1. The hospital plans to build a 64,000 square-foot addition with 28 beds for patients on mechanical ventilators, bringing the total number of beds at the center to 121. That would make it the largest freestanding ventilator facility in the U.S.
2. The addition will also include an inpatient and outpatient kidney dialysis clinic. The kidney dialysis clinic will be a first for Rockcastle County, and will be used both for ventilator patients and members of the community who are in need of the service.
3. The $14 million, three-story expansion will create 85 new full-time jobs, bringing the total number of Rockcastle Regional employees to 730.
4. Of the 85 new positions, 62 will be considered professional, licensed positions such as nurses and therapists. Eight of the positions will staff the dialysis clinic.
5. Overall, the 85 new positions will bring the hospital's total annual salaries and benefits to nearly $31 million.
6. The new facility is expected to open in 2017.
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