KU Hospital continues to be busy as construction progresses on expansion
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kansas University Hospital’s chief operating officer told the hospital board this week that the hospital continues to be very busy, all the more reason leaders are looking forward to completion of the Cambridge North Patient Tower.
Tammy Peterman is executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer of the hospital.
During the hospital authority board’s annual meeting on Tuesday, Peterman said that last week the hospital had 685 patients in beds in one day.
“That really stressed the system,” she said.
Everyone was cared for, she said, though it meant some patients had to be housed in beds outside the medical specialty units that were treating them.
The hospital’s official overall capacity is 749 staffed beds plus 24 bassinets, said Dennis McCulloch, director of public and government relations.
Construction began this spring on Cambridge North Tower, three floors of which have gone up so far.
The $280 million Cambridge Tower is at 39th and Cambridge streets, just northeast of the existing hospital buildings.
The seven-story, 92-bed, 12-operating room facility will house two of the hospital’s fastest-growing specialty areas: neurosciences and surgical oncology, including ear, nose and throat cancers, according to KU Hospital. Of the 92 beds, 28 will be intensive care.
“Last week we needed those beds,” Peterman said. “We’re working on it … it is starting to take shape.”
The Cambridge Tower is scheduled to open to patients in 2017.
In other news, the board:
• Elected new leaders for the upcoming year.
Greg Graves will be chairman of the board, replacing outgoing chairman Bob Honse of Lawrence. Graves, a Stilwell resident, is chairman and CEO of Burns and McDonnell.
The new vice-chairman of the board is David Dillon, former CEO of Kroger. Graves was previously the hospital board’s vice chairman.