Henry Ford News
Henry Ford Health System
Henry Ford Health System Announces $300 Million Investment Plan
Henry Ford Health System announced today that it plans to invest more than $300 million over the next five years in its flagship facility, Henry Ford Hospital.
“We are very pleased that Henry Ford Hospital is ranked among the top health care facilities in the United States,” says Nancy Schlichting, president and chief executive officer of Henry Ford Health System. “To maintain this leadership position, we are committed to updating our facility to meet the needs of 21st century patients.”
The investment, representing the single-largest investment in renovation and expansion in the hospital’s history, will be used for creating new patient rooms (80 private and 18 intensive beds), new operating suites, renovating research facilities and upgrading information technology.
“Reinvesting in Henry Ford Hospital will maintain and expand the flagship legacy that has been established through decades of providing the best medical services available to the citizens of Detroit and southeast Michigan and to patients from around the world,” says Anthony Armada, president and CEO of Henry Ford Hospital and Health Network.
Henry Ford Hospital, a 903-bed tertiary care hospital, education and research complex in Detroit’s New Center Area, opened its doors to patients in 1915. Since that time, it has grown to become one of the country’s most respected hospitals, attracting patients from nearly every state and numerous countries.
“Henry Ford Hospital will always remain the health system’s hub for research, education, transplant, trauma and other critical programs,” says Armada. Demand for services downtown has significantly increased in recent years and is anticipated to grow faster over the next decade. From 2003 to 2005, Henry Ford Hospital had the highest admission growth in Southeast Michigan, with an increase of 13.4 percent.
“All of this investment into the future and vision of Henry Ford Hospital translates into an economic engine for Detroit,” says Bob Riney, chief operating officer for Henry Ford Health System. “Not only for the jobs that will be created to help with the building and renovation but for the additional jobs necessary to maintain a larger, more vibrant medical campus.”
One major project is CarePlus Next Generation, a $40 million technology enhancement of Henry Ford’s electronic medical record. Unlike many health care environments in which the caregiver is unable to access information at the point of care, this next-generation system will place the data at the fingertips of the clinician through the deployment of one of the largest wireless networks in North America, covering 2.1 million square feet, and by providing caregivers with mobile devices such as pocket PCs, tablets and computers on wheels.
Other projects include:
Expansion of the Emergency Department - $10 million (2005 budget) A new lobby-waiting area, a sub-waiting area for patient’s family members and an additional 27 patient bays are being constructed. The expanded Emergency Room (ER) is scheduled to open in August (2006).
Expansion of the Henry Ford II Pavilion, the West Pavilion of the Main Hospital - $35 million Construction will begin in 2006 on a two-floor addition of the Henry Ford II Pavilion. The floors will house 80 new private patient rooms.
Increase Intensive Care Unit capacity - $28 million 18 intensive care beds will be added in the Henry Ford II Pavilion.
Expansion of existing Operating Rooms - $10 million Three additional operating rooms designed to accommodate new technology including robotics and additional pre- surgery and recovery room capacity are part of the expansion plans.
Initial clinic tower redevelopment - $18 million Several of the clinic floors of the 17 floor tower will undergo a major redesign and renovation. Design work is nearly finished for Oncology, Gastro and Nephrology/Transplant.
Research & education development - $13 million Over the next 10 years we anticipate that the investment will exceed $25 million. Several labs will be expanded and relocated.
Infrastructure - $50 million Non-clinical systems and equipment including emergency power upgrade.
Renovation and replacement - $100 million
Capitol investment dollars will be used to cover the costs of replacing and upgrading items like patient beds and equipment such as x-ray machines and blood monitors. “This investment in our hospital is also an investment in the city of Detroit and its future,” says Riney.
“We are committed to Detroit – the Ford name is indelibly linked with the city that has been our home now for more than 90 years. We will continue to provide the highest quality health care for city residents, for southeastern Michigan, and for the rest of the world in our second century of service.”
Just in the last year, Henry Ford opened:
The $8.2 million, 80,000-square-foot Henry Ford Medical Center in the beautiful, renovated space at New Center One; and
The $1.4 million Henry Ford Medical Center – Harbortown, on East Jefferson Avenue, in the Harbortown retail center in Detroit.
“We think it is phenomenal that Henry Ford would make such a significant investment in our city,” says Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick. “The message that they are sending with such an investment is consistent with that of the Next Detroit, where healthcare technology and research will play a major roll in creating the jobs of the future for Detroiters.”
Today, there are five Henry Ford medical centers in the city of Detroit and a total of 24 in southeast Michigan, including the 17-story outpatient medical clinic on this campus, all staffed by the 900-member Henry Ford Medical Group.
As a not-for-profit corporation, funding for the investments will come from re-investment of earnings from operations and philanthropic support.
