MAPLEWOOD, Minn.—Crowding and capacity constraints continue to stress hospitals nationwide as the number of patients seeking care increases, and the ability to discharge them to more appropriate levels of care decreases.

Emergency Department (ED) and inpatient medicine teams at M Health Fairview St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood have tirelessly confronted this challenge, facing a 5 percent rise in inpatient visits and a staggering 12 percent increase in ED visits since 2022. With limited capacity and space, and a commitment to improve patient care while visits are only expected to grow, teams at St. John’s devised a strategy for improving patient flow by expanding the emergency department, reorganizing existing services and — now — opening a new, purpose-built “short-stay and observation unit” to support newly developed workflows.

What sets this groundbreaking facility apart is the innovative construction method employed. Conventional construction posed further disruption to an already strained ED operating above capacity, so the teams at St. John’s embarked on a quest for innovative solutions. The breakthrough came in the form of a pre-fabrication technique in collaboration with construction firm The Boldt Company, and interdisciplinary design firm, HGA. The 16-bed unit was built to over 90 percent completion offsite in Appleton, Wisc., then seamlessly transported and installed on the St. John’s campus – the first of its kind in the state of Minnesota.

The short-stay and observation unit embodies M Health Fairview’s commitment to providing exceptional healthcare services by rethinking how teams work together to serve patients, no matter the circumstances.

“In the face of escalating patient visits, our ED and inpatient medicine teams have been proactive and innovative in their response,” said Will Nicholson, MD, vice president of medical affairs for M Health Fairview St. John’s, Woodwinds, and Bethesda hospitals. “This approach is a game-changer. It allows us to rapidly develop the needed space without impeding current operations.”

Construction of the unit began offsite in September. Crews delivered the prefabricated unit to St. John’s in late November, and teams then completed final construction and furnishing.

“We’re facing a very real need for patient bed space in our country right now.” said David Thomack, chief operating officer with Boldt. “Every day that is spent in planning, design or construction is another day that hospitals and patients must do without those beds. Using a modular approach, we’re delivering that space in half the time traditional construction would take, without sacrificing durability, quality or affordability, allowing healthcare providers to see patients months sooner.”

The post Minnesota Hospital Debuts Short-Stay Unit in Response to Capacity Issues appeared first on HCO News.

SAINT PAUL, Minn.—A ribbon cutting March 7th officially marked the grand opening of Highland Bridge Medical Office. After breaking ground in December 2022, the healthcare facility is opening its doors to the community. The two-story, 60,000-square-foot multi-tenant medical office building at Highland Bridge is expected to not only serve the surrounding community, but also the anticipated 8,500 new residents moving into the mixed-use development over the next decade.

“Healthcare facilities are a foundational part of the communities they serve,” said Ann Duginske Cibulka, vice president of real estate development, Ryan Companies US, Inc. “Healthcare providers want to be connected to commercial hubs like Highland Bridge for visibility and accessibility – being as convenient as possible for patients.”

The grand opening ceremony took place onsite at 2270 Ford Parkway and featured speakers from Ryan, the City of Saint Paul and M Health Fairview, the anchor tenant in the project.

Highland Bridge Medical Office is 85% leased with M Health Fairview, Dermatology Consultants, LifeStance Health, Highland Foot and Ankle Clinic, and RAYUS Radiology. M Health Fairview’s clinic will primarily occupy the second floor with a pharmacy located on the first floor. The clinic will provide primary care services including family, women’s and general pediatric care. Urgent care with extended and weekend hours will be offered to the community. M Health Fairview Rehabilitation Services, which offers physical therapy and sports medicine, will also be part of the new space. The existing M Health Fairview clinic located at 2155 Ford Parkway has relocated and is now operating out of Highland Bridge Medical Office.

“Our Highland Park clinic has been at its current location for over 25 years, and we’ve been a part of the neighborhood for over three decades,” said Sara Johnson, MD, medical director of the Highland Park clinic. “We’re excited to grow into our new space down the street and continue to serve the growing Highland and Hiawatha neighborhoods for decades to come.”

Dermatology Consultants will occupy 12,000 square feet on the first floor and will move its practice from its existing Saint Paul location at 280 Snelling Avenue this May. The clinic will offer a full spectrum of services including general and cosmetic dermatology, skin cancer diagnosis and surgery and esthetician services. LifeStance Health will occupy 4,100 square feet on the first floor offering comprehensive outpatient mental healthcare. Occupying 1,600 square feet on first floor, Highland Foot and Ankle Clinic relocated its practice from 2221 Ford Parkway. The clinic will offer a variety of specialized foot services with comprehensive care for the whole family. Located on the second floor, RAYUS Radiology will occupy 6,400 square feet. As a national leader of advanced diagnostic and interventional radiology, this location will be part of the nationwide network of 150+ freestanding imaging centers for RAYUS. There is approximately 8,000 square feet remaining for future healthcare tenants.

Highland Bridge Medical Office has walkable access to other features of Highland Bridge including parks, retail shops and other nearby amenities. It was built under the City of Saint Paul’s sustainable building standards and is on track to earn a LEED Silver certification.

Ryan developed and built Highland Bridge Medical Office and Ryan A+E, Inc., the design studio of Ryan, was the architect of record and provided architectural services, civil engineering, landscape architectural services and interior design.

The post New Minnesota MOB Will Target LEED Silver appeared first on HCO News.