For Immediate Release: July 27, 2010

Contact: Brian Reardon (217) 544-6464, ext. 44306 brian.reardon@st-johns.org

STATE APPROVES ST. JOHN’S SURGERY MODERNIZATION PROJECT

CHICAGO – The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board today approved St. John’s Hospital’s proposed Surgery Modernization project.  The $121 million construction project will replace the portion of St. John’s existing inpatient surgery department that was constructed in the late 1960s.  The project will link St. John’s Pavilion to the hospital’s patient tower and Prairie Heart Institute.  The new surgery space is scheduled to be completed in 2013. 

“The new Surgery Department is a critical component to our long term strategy to transform how we deliver health care to the residents of central and southern Illinois,” said Bob Ritz, President and CEO, St. John’s Hospital.  “This is a first step in modernizing our campus so that we can offer our patients and their loved ones the very best environment for healing in a highly efficient and contemporary manner.”

The Surgery Modernization project calls for creating a seamless floor plan that puts all surgery services, including cardiac, pediatric and Main Surgery into one contiguous space.  Similar to how Prairie Heart Institute spans 7th Street, the new construction will span Mason Street and result in the removal of some existing structures adjacent to the Pavilion and patient tower that were built in the first half of the 20th century. 
The project will cover 171,866 gross square feet of new and remodeled space and include 16 new surgical suites, satellite pharmacy, Central Sterilization, offices, conference rooms and space for a future Emergency Department.

St. John’s has submitted a second CON application (that will be heard in September) that requests approval for the renovation of four patient floors.  For more information, please visit www.st-johns.org/transform.