Ground Broken on Owen Heart Hospital

TYLER � Officials with Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics broke ground Wednesday on the region’s first freestanding heart hospital. The Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital, named after the Tyler couple that donated $18 million toward the cost of construction, is scheduled for completion in the fall of 2012. It will be located on the campus of Mother Frances Hospital-Tyler.

The Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital is a two-phase project. Phase One, located in the Ornelas Tower, was completed in December. Construction is underway on Phase Two, a freestanding structure located between Saunders Street and South Fleishel Avenue. The hospital will be six stories; include comprehensive cardiac, thoracic, and vascular services; and stand east of and adjacent to Mother Frances Hospital. It will connect to the main hospital and to the Medical Arts Plaza building in several locations, allowing specialists and clinical personnel to easily access both buildings.

“Our administrators, physicians and many others have worked very hard over the last five years to gather the best ideas for delivering cardiac care, and today, construction is underway,” said Lindsey Bradley, FACHE, president, Trinity Mother Frances Hospitals and Clinics. “Building the Louis and Peaches Owen Heart Hospital is the crowning achievement of cardiac care, not only for our patients, but for us as proud medical providers.”

Hospital officials say Phase Two will include:

� Three floors with 72 ICU-capable patient rooms dedicated exclusively to cardiac patients and designed to provide all levels of care, from admission through discharge
� New dedicated cardiac and thoracic OR suites, with ability to expand to more rooms as technology changes
� On-site Cardiac Rehabilitation Center
� Inpatient and Outpatient Cardiac Diagnostics
� Conference Center for community events and heart screenings
� Separate entry and driveway accessible from East Dawson Street with valet parking and patient assistance available
� Connectivity at all times to the Ornelas Tower of Mother Frances Hospital to allow for access to other hospital based services
� Spacious multi-level lobby with amenities including gift shop and dining
� Meditation Room/Chapel to meet spiritual needs of patients, families and caregivers
� Patient and Family Education Center and Resource Center
� A single one-stop registration using a new electronic medical record that supports all in and out patient offices
� Room Service dining