UMC Construction Updates
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Pediatric patients move into the Diamond Children's Medical Center, April through June 2010
UMC ED/Trauma Center opened 2009
University Medical Center doubled its Trauma/Emergency Department (ED) June 2009. The only Level 1 trauma center in Southern Arizona and the state's busiest trauma center, UMC cares for approximately 55,000 emergency patients and 5,000 trauma patients each year. Walk-in emergency care uses a new entrance off of Warren Avenue. A separate entrance, waiting room and treatment area also opened for pediatric patients.
The ED has 61 beds, and its own laboratory, radiology section and CT scanner. It adjoins the new Trauma Center and a 16-bed outpatient observation unit for emergency patients.
"This is the third ED for University Medical Center," said longtime UMC emergency physician Harvey Meislin, MD, head of The University of Arizona Department of Emergency Medicine. "The first ED was 7,000 square feet, the second 20,000, and this new ED is 43,000 square feet in size. CT scanners in the ED, multiple ultrasound machines, fiber optic video airway equipment, digital imaging and critical-care monitoring in every room were not even a dream with the first or second ED. They are a reality today. The new adult ED, pediatric emergency area and Trauma Center rival any facility in the United States," Dr. Meislin said.
The new Trauma Center boasts seven resuscitation suites — up from four — and a new rooftop helipad to accept injured patients from as far away as Yuma, New Mexico and northern Mexico, said Peter Rhee, MD, medical director of UMC's trauma program and professor of surgery at the UA Department of Surgery.
UMC's trauma program ranks among the top university trauma centers nationwide in survival rates, in lowest cost and in shortest hospital stays. Last year a blue-ribbon committee assembled by Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup to assess the city's needs for trauma services concluded that UMC's enhanced Trauma Center and expanded trauma team should be able to accommodate Tucson's projected growth through at least 2020.
The second floor of the new tower, with 44 new medical-surgical and intensive care beds, opened in October, followed by the third floor, with another 44 adult beds, due to open in January, said Judy Dye, the UMC administrator overseeing the multi-year construction project.
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Construction Update:
(last updated June 3, 2010)
Construction Safety: UMC and the construction companies are working together to maintain a safe site. Pedestrians should use designated pathways, knowing that these are subject to change with construction and weather conditions. Please be alert and aware of these changing conditions.
The former Surgery east entrance is closed due to nearby construction. To access the Surgery Lobby, please park in the Surgery Parking Lot (see map below), the Patient/Visitor's Parking Lot or drop off your car with Valet Services at UMC's main entrance (8 am to 5 pm, weekdays).
See UMC Construction Access Maps
Construction Phases include:
- New Helipad opened May 27, 2009 - DONE
- New Trauma and Emergency Department opened June 16, 2009 - DONE
- Intensive Care & Medical/Surgical floor 2 opened October 2009 - DONE
- Intensive Care & Medical/Surgical floor 3 opened in early 2010 - DONE
- Diamond Children's Medical Center floor 5 (Pediatrics) & 6 (Oncology) opened April 27, 2010 - DONE
- Diamond Children's Medical Center floor 4 (Neonatal Intensive Care) opened May 18, 2010 - DONE
- Diamond Children's Medical Center floor 6 (Pediatrics Intensive Care Unit) to open June 2010 - DONE
- Diamond Children's Medical Center main lobby entrance to open September 2010
- UMC Staff Parking Garage - construction has begun - from May 17 to Aug. 1 a crane will be onsite that is 200 feet tall, and it will be lit at night.
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Project Team
- University Medical Center
Judy Dye, VP, Professional & Ancillary Services
Stephen Brigham, Director, Capital Planning & Projects
- The Innova Group - Project Management
Kerry Grunkemeyer, Project Manager
Bill Ahern, Project Coordinator
- NTD Stichler - Architects/Engineers
Steve Stokes, Principal
- Kitchell Contractors, Inc. - Construction Management
Pat Watson, Project Director
Bud Bedingfield, Senior Project Manager
Mike King, Project Superintendent
Questions or concerns?
For construction updates please contact UMC Capital Planning & Projects at capitalplanning@umcaz.edu.
For any helicopter operations and urgent construction questions during evening and weekend hours, call UMC Security at (520) 694-6533.
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