$65 million expansion for St. E's

APPLETON -
A major makeover is coming to an Appleton Hospital. Saint Elizabeth announced Thursday it is planning a $65 million expansion. The three year renovation will include a number of hospital departments and kick off in two weeks.

"We looked at community needs, where our needs were as a facility and what patients have been asking us for," Saint Elizabeth President Travis Andersen said.

Among other changes,the wide-reaching project will improve the Emergency Room, expand and renovate the Cancer Center and add a new Women and Families Birth Center. It will also address practical concerns, like energy, with changes to the hospital power plant.

"That's really the heart of the hospital," Vice President of Performance Gary Kusnierz said. "It's 25 years old, it's seen its better day, so we're replacing all the equipment with state-of-the-art plant equipment," Vice President of Performance Gary Kusnierz said.

The hospital expects the move will reduce its energy use by 30 percent.

But perhaps the most noticeable change for staff will come in Urgent Care. Saint Elizabeth's ER was built 40 years ago and designed for 15,000 annual visits. Now, it sees 26,000 and a big need for space.

ER Doctor David Sickles says he often works in crowded quarters. The project will add 23 rooms to the Emergency Department and help him meet patient needs.

"This is where they come when they're sick, injured, in pain," Sickles said. "We always want to take care of those patients in the best way we can."

So, patient input is fitting driving project design. The hospital surveyed 700 people to craft the facility patients want and need.

The hospital plans to fund the project with operations money, funds raised from the community and borrowed from Affinity Health System sponsors. Hospital leaders hope to finish construction by the summer or early fall of 2012.