Northwest Medical Center expansion to start in winter | Health

Changes are on the horizon for Northwest Medical Center (NMC), who announced yesterday, plans for a nearly $50 million operating room expansion. 

Plans will include an entirely new surgical wing and accommodate the growing demand for surgical services.  Work will not be done all at once, but in phases so hospital service will not be disrupted. Construction is scheduled to begin this winter and will take between 18 and 20 months to complete.

This expansion will bring NMC’s operating room total to 16, all will be outfitted as minimally invasive OR suites.  These new suites will be bigger in size, from 400 square feet to 550 square feet, to help accommodate the new technology, i.e. the daVinci Robot, which is used in minimally invasive procedures. 

Dr. Richard Chua, chairman of NMC’s Department of Surgery and Chief of Staff, said, “As a surgeon, I’m excited Northwest is looking to the future with this expansion. It’s more than just having additional surgical suites and the most up-to-date surgical technology in its operating rooms; it really demonstrates Northwest’s commitment to both its patients, physicians and staff to stay on the cutting edge of healthcare in the Tucson community.”

Some of these new suites will be ‘integrated hybrid suites’, designed specifically for advanced cardiac and vascular procedures, a combination of traditional OR combined with the advanced imaging systems of a cardiac catheterization lab.  These will give patients the best of both areas of specialization, without having to leave the OR suite.  Older methods would have the patient leave for one cardiac procedure and go to another part of the hospital to have a second procedure done, not with the new rooms. 

 “We consistently explore ways to better serve our employees, physicians and, of course, our patients,” said Kevin Stockton, CEO. “The operating room expansion allows us to continue to deliver on that commitment. We’re most excited about the new hybrid room. We currently provide a high level of cardiac care but this room will take our cardiovascular services to an even higher level.”

In addition to the OR expansion, NMC will be renovating one of the Cardiac Catheterization (Cath) labs for those who might not need such an advanced level of care offered by the hybrid OR suite.  This new Cath Lab will have the latest state-of-the-art equipment including new 3D cardiac mapping, electrophysiology (EP), x-ray and monitoring equipment, all while minimizing radiation exposure.  All the new equipment will allow doctors to make faster diagnosis and begin treatment sooner, possibly saving more lives. 

The new surgical wing will be extended from the current building into the former surgery parking lot.  Expansion plans will also allow for future ‘vertical’ growth of the hospital, as the need arises.

For more information about Northwest Medical Center, please visit www.NorthwestMedicalCenter.com.