Plans for an estimated $39 million expansion and redesign for French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo will bring increased patient capacity, needed upgrades and leading-edge technology to the now 40-year-old facility.

"As the hospital’s reputation for excellence grows, so does demand for increased patient capacity, especially in cardiac care. We’ve experienced significant increases in admits, daily census, and ER visits during the past five years," said French Hospital Medical Center’s (FHMC) President and CEO, Alan Iftiniuk.

"A major transformation is critically needed to support state-of-the-art health care delivery, as well as prepare for future innovations in medicine and technology."

Projections predict admissions will grow by another 35 percent by 2015, with changing needs and technological advances also growing steadily.

"This project will dramatically change the way health care is delivered," said Iftiniuk.

The plan calls for:

• A new Cardiac Day Stay Suite with dedicated 12-bed unit
• A New Intensive Care Suite/ICU Remodel and Redesign expansion to 11 beds
• New Patient Care Units with an additional 21 beds, including dedicated oncology beds
• A remodel of the Emergency Department for greater patient privacy and enhanced workflow, plus a new Stroke Center
• A new GI/Endoscopy Suite
• A leading-edge Medical Technology Center with state-of-the-art imaging and diagnostic systems
• Separate from the project, but important is the transition from paper to paperless EHR (Electronic Health Records)
• A new Health Education Pavilion with nursing and community education classrooms, support group and conference facilities
• Separate from the expansion but important to the hospital campus is a new 3-story, 43,000-square-foot physicians’ office building with underground parking and conference facilities

Iftiniuk cited the following reasons for launching the expansion, which he said would be supported by hospital financing and community contributions with a completion date by 2014:

• French Hospital Medical Center has not undergone a major renovation since original construction 40 years ago. Upgrades to interiors and equipment are long overdue.
• In the last five years, FHMC experienced a 34 percent increase in admits, a 28 percent increase in average daily census, and a 19 percent increase in ER visits. Projected growth in the community dictates the need for additional critical care beds and expanded cardiac, oncology, and other health care services.
• As FHMC’s line of services expands to meet these changing health care needs, the urgency to develop facilities to support them becomes more evident.

Iftiniuk stated that when completed, the project will create "… a whole new patient experience in a technologically advanced hospital."

FHMC is a multiple award-winning hospital and a leading cardiac care facility in San Luis Obispo County. Currently in the planning stages, the capital campaign for the project also includes building the existing endowments for the Hearst Cancer Resource Center and Cardiac Care Center.

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