This rendering shows VUH’s third bed tower, to be built atop the Emergency Department.
State approves plan to add third tower to VUH
State officials this week approved Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Certificate of Need (CON) application, paving the way for the addition of a third bed tower to the main hospital.
The $234 million, 11-story tower will be built atop Vanderbilt University Hospital's Emergency Department, and would add a net of 141 additional acute-care beds as well as several new operating suites.
In assessing the CON application, state reviewers recognized VUMC for its unique role as a provider of specialized health care services.
“Thank you for what you do for Nashville, Middle Tennessee and for the entire state,” said Carl Koella, chair of Tennessee’s Health Systems Development Commission.
Construction of the third bed tower could begin this fall and is expected to be done in phases, with completion targeted for 2012.
The new tower would consist of eight patient care and two mechanical floors above the existing one-story Emergency Department.
The project also involves relocation and expansion of existing cardiac catheterization labs and cardiac “hybrid” operating rooms, relocation of a clinical research unit and the addition of 14 new operating suites.
Elevator additions, waiting area and patient amenity renovations in the existing hospital, and various other Medical Center renovation projects are also included in the $234.4 million total, which will be financed through philanthropy, debt financing and cash reserves.