San Marcos — Central Texas Medical Center (CTMC) officials today announced a $35 million expansion and renovation project at the Wonder World Drive campus

Included are a new Childbirth Center, a Level II Neonatal Critical Care Unit (NCCU), a new cardiac telemetry inpatient nursing unit, and an expansion/improvement of the facility's surgical suite.

At just over 64,000 square feet, the two-story addition will result in an all private-room Childbirth Center featuring a 22-bed obstetric unit; a 7-bed labor/delivery/recovery unit; a 15-bassinet nursery; a 6-bassinet Level II NCCU; and a specially designated Cesarean-Section room, all of which will be located on the first floor. The second floor of the new addition will feature a medical unit with 36 private beds and state-of-the-art cardiac monitoring capabilities.

Plans also include expansion and renovation of the hospital's current surgical unit that will expand the number of operating rooms from four to six, with space for a seventh room in the future. The project is expected to create at least 50 new jobs at the facility and increase the number of licensed beds from 113 to 121, with the potential of expanding up to 142 in the future.

At a press conference in the hospital's main lobby Friday morning, the news was met with support from the various hospital and community leaders present.

“With nearly 1,200 births at the hospital last year alone, it is clear we need to expand to meet the needs of our growing community,” said Gary Jepson, CTMC president & CEO. “We're thrilled that our Adventist Health System leaders saw the need and were willing to make this major investment in our hospital and community.” The project allows Jepson to continue the transformation of the CTMC experience. Since his arrival in 2001, Jepson has led several smaller expansions, service enhancements and technological advances. These include the conversion to an electronic medical records system, the opening of the new CTMC Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Institute and the renovation/expansion of the Emergency Room waiting area. A recently completed renovation to the hospital's main lobby resulted in the addition of Mochas & Javas Internet café, and new kiosk-based registration and way-finding services for patients and visitors.

“As a former CEO of this institution and current chairman of its board, it gives me great pleasure to see Adventist Health System making such a large financial commitment in support of San Marcos and the surrounding communities. It's a testament to Gary's leadership,” said Pete Weber, President/CEO of the Southwest Region of Adventist Health System. “The improvements in service and access that this $35 million investment will make ensure that our mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ will be advanced for years to come,” he added.

Current projections call for construction of the new addition, which will be located behind the Professional Office Building on the hospital's main campus, to begin in mid-2008 and be completed in early 2010.

CTMC is a 113-bed acute-care general hospital providing healthcare services in San Marcos, neighboring communities. The hospital, which originated in 1923 as Hays County Soldiers, Sailors and Marines Memorial Hospital, was restructured in 1960. The present facility was opened at its current Wonder World Drive location in 1983. The CTMC staff of over 600 employees works with more than 170 active and consulting physicians to provide quality services to patients and their families. In addition, over 100 community members and interns from Texas State University - San Marcos volunteer their services to the hospital.

Adventists opened their first health center in 1866 in Battle Creek, Mich. Now with 36 hospitals located across the United States, the Adventist Health System is the largest not-for-profit Protestant hospital system in the country.

For more information call 753-3603.



Projects keeping mission on move



Since opening as a 113-bed community hospital on Wonder World Drive in 1983, Central Texas Medical Center (CTMC) has continued growing and expanding facilities to meet the growing demands of San Marcos and neighboring communities. Here's a quick summary of major construction projects at the campus:

• 1992 Professional Office Building opens. The 3-story building houses physician offices, a retail pharmacy and the CTMC Center for Wellness & Sports Performance.

• 1995 Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Unit and Cardiac Catheterization Lab open.

• 1998 New 2-story Main Entrance addition featuring new Intensive Care Unit, Registration area, separate Radiology entrance, Chapel and Gift Shop opened.

• 2000 Hospital's Emergency Department expanded to 20-bed unit.

• 2006 Renovation of hospital's Childbirth unit completed.

• 2007 Renovated and expanded Physician Lounge opened. Renovation of ER waiting room and addition of Guest Services Representatives. New 6,000 square foot CTMC Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Institute opened. Renovation to the hospital's main lobby including an Internet café and kiosk-based services for patients and visitors completed. Renovations to Intensive Care waiting area completed.