Phase I of the $100 million, seven-story tower will open in April 2014

Project boosts local economy

Beam tops off St. E’s hospital wing

BOARDMAN

Placement of the final steel beam atop St. Elizabeth Boardman Health Center’s seven-floor in-patient tower on Monday — the “topping off” ceremony — is a significant benchmark in the $100 million project scheduled for April 2014 completion.

There is, however, still a lot of work to do, said Robert Shroder, president and chief executive of Humility of Mary Health Partners, St. Elizabeth’s parent company.

The new patient tower, the second such facility at St. Elizabeth Boardman, is part of the reorganization of the St. Elizabeth health care system to align services with where the patients are, Shroder said.

For example, the neonatal intensive care unit housed at St. Elizabeth Main Campus on Belmont Avenue, Youngstown, will be moved to the new patient wing in Boardman, he said, noting that two-thirds of the babies born at St. Elizabeth are in the southern service area.

It reflects the changing demographics of the area’s population and is part of a 10-year strategic plan to remain viable, Shroder said.

The neonatal unit, operated by Akron Children’s Hospital, will lead to the renovation and conversion of all patient rooms at St. Elizabeth Main Campus to private. Also, he said, St. Elizabeth Main Campus will house all the tertiary care, such as neurosurgery, cardiac surgery and rehabilitation, behavioral health and the Level I Trauma Center.

The new tower, located immediately west of the hospital’s main entrance, will be completed in phases: With the fifth, sixth and seventh floors to open in 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively, which will be a mix of medical surgical and telemetry floors.

Shroder said the project will change the number of patient beds, including medical/surgical, obstetrics and neonatal nursery, at St. Elizabeth Boardman from 128 to 244; and from 350 to 250 at St. Elizabeth Main Campus.

“I’m excited about opening the new facility in Boardman and the opportunities that opens up for St. Elizabeth Main Campus. We hope to have all private rooms at the Mahoning County facilities and St. Joseph Health Center in Warren in three to five years,” he said.

Shawn Lyden, executive vice president of Akron Children’s, said moving the neonatal unit to St. Elizabeth Boardman will provide 24 private rooms, and also to an upgrade of equipment. Akron Children’s already has offices for subspecialty physicians in the St. Elizabeth Boardman Medical Pavilion, he said.