Guests from throughout the community gathered in July at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center to celebrate the completion of the hospital’s $28 million expansion project.
The event brought together hospital leaders, community members and all three local business networking organizations – including the Manatee Chamber of Commerce, Greater Sarasota Chamber of Commerce and Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance – for a ribbon cutting ceremony and tours of the newly expanded hospital. “We are very grateful for the support of the community as we celebrate this important achievement,” said Lakewood Ranch Medical Center CEO Andy Guz. “This expansion increases our capacity to serve our growing population and enables us to provide even more services and clinical expertise right here, close to home.”
The 14-month-long expansion project included adding two new operating rooms, an advanced MRI system and suite, a new CT scanner, an additional heart catheterization lab and a new location for the Breast Health Center in Medical Office Building 1, next to the hospital. Also, the shell for two additional operating rooms has been built, so the infrastructure is already in place when the hospital needs to expand again.“
Technology is an important component of the expansion and is equipping doctors with the tools they need to provide a higher level of care,” Guz said. During the grand opening celebration, guests were given a close-up look at the hospital’s new da Vinci® Surgical System, which has enabled the hospital to start a new robotic program. Surgeons at Lakewood Ranch Medical Center will use the da Vinci system to perform minimally invasive procedures in general surgery, gynecology and urology.
Happy 15th Anniversary!
On Sept. 1, 2019, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center celebrated 15 years of providing healthcare services to Manatee and Sarasota counties. In total, the hospital has cared for more than 1 million patients, conducted more than 650,000 imaging tests and delivered more than 10,000 babies!
Other equipment and technology upgrades include a new 3D mammography system for advanced breast cancer screening, and new CT and MRI equipment that will support better, faster, more patient-friendly imaging. The addition of a second cath lab has enabled the hospital to start a new service line in Electrophysiology to provide specialized care for heart rhythm issues such as atrial fibrillation (AFib), bradycardia and tachycardia. Looking ahead, Guz said the hospital is poised for more expansion to meet the community’s evolving needs. “As we grow, we want to maintain the same high-quality care that we have consistently provided,” he said. “It’s important for our patients to know that we will continue to put their needs at the center of everything we do.”
Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if minimally invasive surgery is right for you.