This is an exciting time as we enter a new phase of growth at Thomas.  Construction is complete and the six-floor addition is now open, adding private rooms, obstetrics unit, surgical center, satellite gift shop, cafe and kitchen.

"This project is demand-driven, not dream-driven," said Steve Dexter, CEO of Thomas Health System.  "We’ve built because we're having more patients and more doctors coming to Thomas Memorial. We have more surgeons coming who need to have operating room time. Some are booked three or four weeks out. We've more than doubled the number of births we have here in the last 10 years.

"The ground floor has a new cafeteria," Dexter said. "It replaces the one we had, which was built in the 1950s. When you go to the hospital to visit, you spend time in the hospital room visiting your loved one and in the cafeteria visiting with family. We upgraded to modern spaces where patients and families can feel comfortable in a nice atmosphere."

The first floor features three operating rooms, representing a 44% increase in the hospital's operating room capacity. The expansion was vital for several reasons. One is the fact that Thomas Memorial has more doctors.  "Last year we recruited over 20 doctors," Dexter said. " When you recruit a surgeon, they need operating room time. We need more operating room space."

The second floor contains 19 private rooms for obstetrical patients.
"Having a baby is a joyous time but also a private time," Dexter said. "When you come in and have your baby, you'll have your own room. It'll be a private room. We know that family is important, so these rooms will be family-friendly."

Each of the top three floors have 32 private rooms, for a total of 96. Allowing the hospital to convert all of its other medical surgical rooms into private rooms and "we are now an all-private-room hospital," Dexter said.

He pointed out that studies show that by going from a semi-private to a private room, there are fewer hospital-acquired infections, fewer medication errors and fewer falls.

If you are in a semi-private room and your roommate has an airborne disease, there is some possibility of becoming infected. "With a private room, you are not sharing the air, not sharing the restroom," Dexter said.

"The new rooms are designed to be very accommodating to family - they're designed for a family member to stay overnight," Dexter said.