Surgical Services Remodel Complete

Santa Fe, NM, Tuesday November 17, 2009 - CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center has completed a major renovation and remodeling of its Operating Rooms and Surgical Services Department.

Big improvements

The $16 million project includes a 4,000-square-foot addition and 37,800 square feet of remodeled rooms and areas. Ten operating rooms were carefully redesigned with ease-of-use, flexibility and state-of-the-art equipment in mind. 27 pre- and post-operative patient bays were configured to improve the efficiency of staff and its operations. Patient comfort and hospitality was also a major consideration in selecting architectural finishes and audiovisual equipment.

The size of the surgical locker rooms was increased to accommodate a growing population of physicians, nurses and support staff. Improved waiting rooms were filled with natural light and boast a view of the mountains. And finally, two modern and elegantly lit porte cocheres were constructed, one for patient drop-off and the other for patient pick-up. Phase 2 of the surgical services remodel opened this fall. Phase 1 of the project was completed in March.

"We are moving in, stretching our legs and getting acquainted with our new surroundings," said Arleen Godbey, Sr. Director of Surgical Services. "We really like the remodel, not just because it is new, but because it has allowed our staff to improve their efficiency and work in an environment where they can focus on patient care."

Teamwork: a valuable asset

One of the project's most challenging aspects was phased construction, which allowed the hospital to operate in its existing suites during phase 1 and its new suites during phase 2. Many sub-phases were meticulously planned and executed so that the flow of patient, visitor and staff traffic was not hampered by construction. The planning team consisted of construction managers, hospital directors, infection control staff, safety personnel as well as the architect's construction administration and engineering teams.

Teamwork also proved to be a valuable asset in the field, as the sophisticated design required a high degree of coordination to implement. New ductwork, conduit and piping were tightly installed around the existing infrastructure. Hidden conditions revealed during demolition necessitated quick decision-making. And the hospital's design changes during construction were executed with precision and promptitude.

Ethan J. Twer, Project Manager for the Hartman + Majewski Design Group, commented on the subject: "While teamwork is the foundation of any successful project, our team of engineers, construction managers and subcontractor representatives visited the job site with such regularity and rigor that issues could be resolved with increased speed, first-hand knowledge and overall efficiency. Our team's dedication to the project certainly added value during construction."

The hospital, which is designated as a "sole community provider" by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, serves seven counties in northern New Mexico and a small contingent of patients living in the Four Corners region. With its recent completion, CHRISTUS St. Vincent's new-and-improved surgical now has a 25% increase in capacity, including inpatient, outpatient and emergent operations. The hospital's surgical suites had not received a major renovation since 1986 when the suites were expanded.

Project Statistics

Owner: CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center

Location: 455 St. Michaels Drive, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Size: 4,000 sq. ft. (new) 37,800 sq. ft. (remodel)

Design Team:

• The Hartman + Majewski Design Group (Architectural),
• The Hartman + Majewski Design Group (Civil)
• QPEC Engineering (Structural)
• ArSed Engineering Group (Mechanical)
• Lopez Engineering, Inc. (Electrical)

Construction Team:

• Klinger Constructors (General)
• Yearout Mechanical, Inc. (Mechanical)
• Cordray Electric, Inc. (Electrical)
• LCG, LLC (Construction Manager)

Construction Cost: $10.3 million

Completion Date: March 2009 (phase 1) October 2009 (phase 2)

CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center is a community-based, private, not-for-profit hospital serving more than 300,000 people in seven counties in northern New Mexico. CHRISTUS St. Vincent was founded in 1865 by the Sisters of Charity and is New Mexico's first hospital and the largest private employer in Santa Fe. In April 2008, CHRISTUS Health and St. Vincent finalized the formation of a partnership that allowed St. Vincent to benefit from the resources of the international 40-hospital system. CHRISTUS St. Vincent is designated as a "sole community provider" by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

For More Information Please Contact:
Arturo Delgado
Phone: (505) 699-6400