Lakewood Ranch Medical Center plans 60-bed, $120 million expansion

Staff Report
·2 min read
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center recently announced plans to build a new five-story, 60-patient bed tower. The $120 million addition would increase the patient capacity from 120 to 180 people.
Lakewood Ranch Medical Center recently announced plans to build a new five-story, 60-patient bed tower. The $120 million addition would increase the patient capacity from 120 to 180 people.

LAKEWOOD RANCH – Lakewood Ranch Medical Center recently announced plans to build a new, five-story, 60-patient bed tower to the Lakewood Ranch campus.

The $120 million addition would increase capacity of the acute care hospital to 180 beds.

Located at 8330 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., the acute-care hospital currently has 120 beds and provides medical services ranging from cardiovascular, surgical and orthopedics to stroke, maternity and obstetrical care, intensive care and emergency services.

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Construction of the new 170,000-square-foot tower is the first step of a multi-phase hospital expansion plan. Two more floors can be added to the planned five-floor facility as part of that phased expansion plan.

“The significant population growth we’ve experienced since 2016, and projected growth during the next several years, are driving the need for this expansion,” Andy Guz, chief executive officer at LWRMC, said in a prepared statement. “We are looking forward to expanding our capacity so we can continue to provide the high-quality care that meets the medical needs of our community."

In addition to the new beds, the tower will allow for expansion of key ancillary departments including pharmacy, laboratory, education, pre-admission testing and food and nutrition services.

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The added patient beds could result in the creation of as many as 100 new jobs at the hospital.

Lakewood Ranch Medical Center and its sister hospital Manatee Memorial Hospital, are both part of the Manatee Healthcare System, owned by Universal Health Services Inc., which is based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.

Pre-construction work on the 60-bed patient tower is set to begin in 2023 and the first phase is expected to be completed in 2025.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Lakewood Ranch Medical Center to spend $120 million on new tower