Before this week’s update, I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who played a role in navigating the medical center’s recent high acute census. High capacity impacts the entire team, and we are greatly appreciative of the strategic planning, excellent care, and team efforts to ensure safe patient flow amidst these challenges. Your daily efforts work hand in hand with long-term planning like the South Tower expansion to manage growing patient acuity.
This Thursday, August 28, University Medical Center will host a special preview event for our team members to learn more and share input about the planned build-out of the sixth, seventh, and eighth floors of the South Tower.
The South Tower was built with growth in mind. We intentionally left the top floors unfinished to allow for future expansion when the time was right. Over several years, we’ve opened our current Emergency Department, added operating rooms, and increased bed capacity across the tower’s first five floors. Now, we are on track to begin the final phase of this vision.
Informed by clinical data, patient trends, and team member insights, the floors will be dedicated to Oncology, universal bed space that can adapt and flex between ICU-level care and other patient needs, and the expansion of our NICU with the latest technologies. Led by the medical center’s COO, Min Lee, MBA, MHA and her dedicated team, this project reflects the vision, hard work, and collaboration of so many across UVA Health, alongside our building and architect partners. By early next year, all that thoughtful planning will kick off into the next phase, construction!
Before the next phase begins, we want to give the whole team another opportunity to get involved with what’s being planned. The South Tower Expansion Preview on Thursday, August 28, 1:30–6:30 p.m. is a drop-in event at the Education Resource Center (ERC) with food, raffles, and information tables to learn more and chat with the teams helping bring this project to life.
Team members are also invited to sign up for a guided tour of the 8th floor, to see a NICU prototype room and leave inspirational notes for the patients, families, and caregivers who will one day call it home!
This event is a celebration of the thoughtful work behind the South Tower expansion and a moment to engage in the future being built together. I’m personally thrilled to celebrate this milestone and incredibly proud of the team that will see the project across the finish line.
Take care and be well,
Wendy