By Matt Wiley
It’s the newest and largest hospital in our area, but Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) already is planning an aggressive expansion at its Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. campus in the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI).
According to a Mar. 6 press release, FHWC will begin construction on its $78-million expansion — that will add three floors to the hospital’s center wing, as well as a three-story “arm” that will connect the central and southern wings — in August.
“The community has overwhelmingly shown us both the need for the hospital and their confidence and appreciation for the high-quality care our staff delivers every day,” FHWC president and CEO, Denyse Bales-Chubb. “We are so blessed by their faith in us and we know we need to grow to meet both the current demands and future growth of the community.”
FHWC spokesperson Tracy Clouser says that the technologically advanced, $150-million, 200,000-sq.-ft., 83-bed facility actually was built with expansion in mind. Clouser says that the expansion will feature 111,993 sq. ft. of new construction, as well as 10,834 sq. ft. of renovated space.
Improvements will include space for 48 new beds (and space for 24 additional beds when they’re needed), 17 more emergency room (added to the current 18) rooms, an additional heart catheterization lab, more pre-operation, recovery and observation beds, as well as four new surgical suites with space to open five more when necessary.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion is scheduled for Wednesday, August 5. For more info, please visit FloridaHospital.com/Wesley Chapel.
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