Still under construction, Cardiovascular Center to add more beds

The Cardiovascular Center (CVC) won't start welcoming patients to its new building for another two years. But rising demand for University medical services, including advanced heart and vascular care, already is prompting major expansion plans.

The 350,000 gross square-foot CVC, located just south of the Cancer & Geriatrics Center on the site of the 'Old Main' hospital, is scheduled to be completed in fall 2006. (Photo by Paul Jaronski, U-M Photo Services)

U-M Health System (UMHS) leaders received approval from the Board of Regents Jan. 26 to add 28 more inpatient beds to the CVC by finishing and equipping empty "shell" space included in the building's original plans. The plan, which also will require state approval, will increase the CVC bed total to 48.

The expansion will mean many adult CVC patients will be able to receive all of their care—from diagnosis and outpatient appointments to surgery and recuperation—in one state-of-the-art building.

The CVC also will connect to University Hospital, where specialized teams will care for some patients treated in the center's operating or procedure rooms.

The added beds in the CVC building are part of UMHS efforts to meet the needs of an ever-growing number of patients. University Hospital has been operating near its maximum capacity recently, despite opening 57 beds during the last three years.

"In addition to giving our cardiovascular patients an all-in-one location for much of their care, this action is part of our overall plan to relieve pressure throughout our system, which is attracting more patients each year," says Dr. Robert Kelch, executive vice president for medical affairs and chief executive officer of UMHS. "This in turn will reduce wait times for patients who need a bed, and allow us to accept more patients from around the state who need specialized services that they can get nowhere else in the area."

The new beds mainly will be used for a step-down unit for patients who are recuperating from surgery on their blood vessels, heart or chest. They add to the CVC's 24 intensive-care beds.

The CVC building also will include:

• Thirty- six outpatient clinic rooms where teams of doctors, nurses and others from many specialties will see patients in a coordinated, team-based way

• A state-of-the-art diagnostic facility for electrocardiograms, echocardiography, and vascular diagnostics, and a link to the MRI, PET and other imaging areas in University Hospital

• A new Cardiovascular Procedures Unit that will include five suites where cardiac catheterization procedures such as angioplasties will be performed, five electrophysiology procedure suites for heart-rhythm procedures, and two vascular intervention suites

• Eight operating rooms for the use of surgeons and interventional radiologists

• Teaching space where the next generation of cardiovascular specialists can be trained

• A "winter garden" with five-story glass walls that will provide a view of outdoor gardens

• Patient and family areas, including a cafe, patient education center and respite/quiet rooms

• Office space for faculty and staff

Clinical services for infants, children and teens—provided by the world-renowned Congenital Heart Center, part of the CVC—will remain in C.S. Mott Children's Hospital.

Construction of the six-story, 350,000 square-foot building, and its adjoining 465-space parking deck and connectors to other buildings, began in September 2003 and is approaching the halfway mark.

The addition will cost approximately $13 million, increasing the CVC project to $212 million, and will delay the opening by two months.

Funds for the project are coming from hospital reserves and fundraising efforts. Among those supporting the CVC are Olympic swimming champion Michael Phelps, now a U-M student, who will appear at an upcoming fundraiser.

For more information on the CVC building project, visit http://www.plantext.bf.umich.edu/plantext/projects/CVC.