OhioHealth announces plans to invest in more convenient and accessible care to meet growing community needs

Saturday, June 25, 2016

With estimates of close to 10,000 people living in downtown Columbus by 2018 and a growing, aging population, demographics are shifting in urban and suburban areas, creating new demands for healthcare services. At the same time, healthcare resources are being reduced in the downtown/Franklinton area, putting more pressure on the remaining providers like OhioHealth Grant Medical Center. To begin to address those needs, OhioHealth has plans to expand capacity at Grant, and today announced it is building a network of freestanding emergency departments (FSEDs) and a surgical inpatient hospital in Grove City.

Specific locations for the FSED network are yet to be determined but two planned locations include the Southeast/Obetz area and Hilliard, which should open within 18-24 months. Analysis of our patient data shows that many patients travel from these areas to Grant for their healthcare.

“There is a growing demand from patients, both nationally and locally, for healthcare to be delivered conveniently and in their own communities,” said Kristin McManmon, president, OhioHealth Neighborhood Care. “Our goal is to build a network of freestanding emergency departments that will allow people to receive emergency care in a more convenient setting, closer to home. One area we are exploring is the Southeast/Obetz area, which is underserved in healthcare options. Many patients from that area currently come to Grant for their healthcare. Having a freestanding ED in this area would bring care to the community while freeing up capacity at Grant to care for other patients. In addition to better access and convenience, our intent, as a system, is to make care more affordable.”

In addition, OhioHealth is expanding its plans in Grove City by building a surgical inpatient hospital that will also house an emergency department. The 26-bed surgical hospital will be smaller than traditional hospitals, specializing in lower acuity surgical care for patients needing a brief overnight stay. The inpatient hospital is in addition to the previously announced ambulatory surgery center for outpatient surgery and medical office building that will be on-site.

“OhioHealth has been caring for residents of Grove City for over three decades and we purchased this land over four years ago,” said Steve Markovich, MD, OhioHealth senior VP of central Ohio operations. “We’ve spent these years doing our due diligence to make sure we are bringing something to the community that they truly need, which is why we’re building a new type of hospital. What makes it stand out is that it has been designed with a focus on surgery, making it more efficient and more convenient for our patients and their families who typically travel to one of our larger hospitals for care. This hospital will allow them to stay closer to home, while receiving high quality care in a surgical-focused hospital that is solely dedicated to their needs.”

OhioHealth is also anticipating growth in patient volume at other hospitals within the system, including OhioHealth Doctors Hospital and OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital. The announcement of these new facilities will both meet community needs and balance the demand for care at existing healthcare facilities.

OhioHealth also has plans to expand capacity at Grant, which is home to the busiest level I trauma program in the state. This is in addition to the plans previously announced to expand the Bone and Joint Center at Grant, a new helipad and additional trauma bay to support trauma, and expansion of heart and vascular services.

Approximately 300 jobs will be created by the development of the Grove City project and the FSEDs.

 

Source : newsroom.ohiohealth.com