2011 Report to the Community - Allina Health

Architect’s rendering of new surgical rooms
Renovation Begins
to Create New
Elaine S. Larson
Surgical Center
Construction will begin this spring on the elaine s.
larson surgical Center at united hospital. the work to
completely rebuild united’s operating rooms is expected
to be finished in the fall of 2013.
the elaine s. larson surgical Center Campaign has a
goal of $18.5 million. in 2011, the campaign marked a
major milestone with the donation of the lead gift by
elaine s. larson of st. paul.
Rebuilding the entire operating room area on the
second floor will take place in phases so that surgeries
will continue throughout the process, explained Richard
schreiner, united’s director of facilities management.
as one section of the surgery center is completed, staff
will begin to use it and renovation will proceed in the
next area.
schreiner noted the receiving area for patients and
families will be expanded, creating a welcoming,
comfortable atmosphere. the crowded doctor’s
lounge also will be expanded.
Renovation is needed so that united can provide the
most advanced setting for surgery, which has changed
considerably since the current operating rooms were
built in the 1970s. Minimally invasive surgery and
robotic surgery require more staff, more equipment and
more room to store the range of equipment needed.
on average, a current operating room is 350 square feet.
the 15 new operating rooms will be 600 to 650 square
feet for general, orthopedic and cardiac procedures and
750 square feet for rooms for neurosurgery and robotic
surgeries. each operating room will have 200 square
feet of storage. in addition, the renovation will improve
computer technology, lighting, and the scheduling and
flow of patients and staff.
in 2011, nearly 16,000 surgeries were performed at
united. a robust surgery program is integral to many
medical programs at united and essential to the
hospital’s financial health.
To support the Surgical Center Campaign,
please contact United Hospital Foundation
at 651-241-8022 or at unitedhospital.com/
unitedfoundation.
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2011 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY |