STS. MARY & ELIZABETH HOSPITAL PLANS NEW HEALTHCARE FACILITY FOR SOUTHWEST JEFFERSON COUNTY

For Immediate Release: 5/10/2006

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY (May 10, 2006) – Citing a long-standing commitment to meeting the health care needs of southwestern Jefferson County, Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital has announced its intention to file a Certificate of Need (CON) request to construct an Ambulatory Care Center on South Dixie Highway.  Included in the 2006-08 Commonwealth of Kentucky budget is $950,000 that will be used to support the capital infrastructure needed for the facility.  The proposed budget is now awaiting the Governor’s approval.

 Under CON rules, the Ambulatory Care Center will be able to provide emergent and urgent services, laboratory services, imaging services and education and wellness services.  Primary care physician offices will be part of the facility, but do not require a CON.  Additional services may be added over time as Sts. Mary & Elizabeth, in conjunction with the community, identifies future needs.

 “Over the last decade, Sts. Mary & Elizabeth has developed a physician employment model that has led to approximately 30 primary care physicians maintaining their office locations in southern and southwestern Jefferson County,” said Tom Gessel, Chief Executive Officer of Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital.  “This facility will further our commitment to providing multiple primary care options for this community.”

 During the recent legislative session, legislators from the Jefferson County delegation worked collaboratively to determine various ways to ensure additional services could be provided to this large population.

 “We have been looking at how to shore up our citizen’s access to primary care for the long-term,” stated State Senator Elizabeth Tori (R-10).  “I am delighted the appropriation for this program received almost unanimous support from the General Assembly.  I am convinced the need for health care is paramount to the people in southwest Jefferson County and will make a real difference.  My grateful thanks go to Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital for agreeing to build a facility which will serve the urgent health care needs of this community.”

 According to state data, southwest Jefferson County, specifically the 40272 zip code, is one of the highest utilizing areas for medical care throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky.  This area had the third highest number of ambulatory surgeries for the first nine months of 2005 and the sixth highest number of discharges for the same period.  Projections show an anticipated 2.6% increase in population for southwest Jefferson County by 2009.

  “We truly appreciate the bi-partisan support of the entire Jefferson County delegation, the leadership of the General Assembly and the Governor’s Office and Cabinet,” Gessel said.  “Through this new initiative, we will continue our commitment of bringing high quality health care services to our community in convenient locations.”

  “This is the kind of non-traditional solution that our citizens deserve as they cope with their health care needs,” said State Senate Majority Whip Dan “Malano” Seum (R-38).  “I’m grateful to help secure this vital new health care asset for Jefferson Countians living in the Dixie Highway corridor.”

 “Given the distances to full-service hospitals for the citizens of this area, we had to come up with alternative ways to ensure health care needs are met for many years to come,” said State Representative Charlie Miller (D-28).  “This public-private initiative will do that, and I support it wholeheartedly.”

 The scope of the final project is still being determined.  It is anticipated that the total investment will be around $6 million.  The CON application will most likely be submitted in the fall of 2006, with development of the center to begin in 2007.

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