Workers tend to what will be the expanded emergency department at Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital. The ER will increase from 14 to 35 beds.
In response to rapidly growing demand for healthcare services, Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital is undergoing a major expansion that will double its size to 200,000 square feet and increase patient capacity.
The $190 million project began in May 2023 and includes a new four-story bed tower connecting to the existing hospital. The expansion is designed to add 50 more inpatient beds and expand or add various services, including a larger emergency room, a new ICU, inpatient rehab, a level II nursery, and additional surgical and diagnostic services.
The phased project will open to the public in June 2025, starting with new lab and pharmacy spaces.
"There are three buildings original to the campus, so 12 sides, and 12 of 12 sides have all been impacted by construction," said Patrick Bosse, chief administrative officer at Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital. "It's been a big deal, and a lot is happening."
The emergency department -- currently the busiest in the Roper St. Francis system -- is expanding from 14 to 35 beds.
"Our ER sees more than 150 patients daily, so this expansion is way overdue and badly needed," Bosse said. "That will allow us to care for patients more timely."
The initial ER capacity will increase to 28 or 29 beds before reaching the full 35 once renovations are complete. The entire project is slated for completion in early 2026.
Additional highlights of the expansion include:
ICU and step-down units: Located on the second floor of the new bed towerSurge beds: Third floor of the towerInpatient rehab: Fourth floorExpanded labor and delivery unit: Six delivery rooms, 20 postpartum rooms, and a new level II nurserySurgical services: Operating rooms to support growing demand in orthopedics, OB/GYN and general surgeryCardiac and neurology services: Enhancements in diagnostics and specialty careDialysis: Inpatient dialysis services to reduce patient transfersOutpatient clinics and diagnostics: Includes new maternal fetal medicine services, cardiac rehab expansion, wound care, mammography, and hyperbaric therapy
Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital Director of Women's and Infants' Services Laura MacMillan described the upgrades for expectant mothers and newborns.
"We currently have four labor and delivery recovery rooms, and we are going up to six," she said. "We currently have two OB emergency department rooms, and we're moving that up to three beds. We're adding a Level II nursery, and that'll be six dedicated beds."
The hospital is located on a 96-acre campus and currently employs 420 full-time staff. As new departments open, additional hiring is expected.
Bosse said construction on an open and active hospital campus can be challenging, but praised the workers for keeping those challenges to a minimum.
"That's why I want to mention our contractors and how great they've been," he said. "They understand they're working in an operating hospital, which has allowed things to move along nicely."
Future milestones for openings include the expanded emergency room and imaging in July, new ICU, surgical and dialysis spaces in November, and the new labor and delivery unit by April 2026.