Newswise — TOLEDO, Ohio, May 7, 2015 – ProMedica is preparing to embark on the largest, single construction project in its history – a $350 million dollar replacement tower on the campus of ProMedica Toledo Hospital and Toledo Children’s Hospital. The health system announced plans to build a 302-bed patient care tower to replace the nearly 90-year-old facility on North Cove Boulevard. The 13-story structure is scheduled to open in 2019 and will include larger and all private rooms featuring user-friendly technology for patients and families. The Generations of Care project is a significant investment to ensure world-class health care for future generations in northwest Ohio. The project will be managed by The Lathrop Company, a member of New York-based Turner Construction Company. It is expected to employ more than 1,000 construction workers. “This project marks a momentous milestone in ProMedica’s history and will transform our campus into a leading destination for high-quality care in the region,” said Arturo Polizzi, president, Toledo Hospital and Toledo Children’s Hospital. “It’s so much more than bricks and mortar – it’s about sustaining the health and well-being for families across northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan for decades to come.” About the Generations of Care project Guided by a singular focus to provide the best possible patient experience, the design of the Generations replacement tower has been developed through comprehensive studies of hospital processes as well as significant input from physicians, nurses, clinical staff and support team members.

The new tower is designed to enhance the quality of patient care and fully meet the treatment and recovery needs of the region’s most critically-ill patients. Below are some of the key benefits for patients and their families, as well as hospital staff: - More time for care. Room design and floor layouts will be designed to reduce walking time by more than 50 percent. Currently, nurses walk up to three miles in a 12-hour shift.- Better access to caregivers. All private and “smart” rooms featuring user-friendly technology will provide patients more immediate access to nurses, dietitians and other hospital staff. - Enhanced nurse and physician communication. The optimized floor and room layouts will make it easier for nurses and physicians to connect and collaborate to provide more efficient, safe and high-quality care.- Keeping families connected. Staying connected to loved ones is a vital part of the recovery process. The intensive care unit rooms will be more than 50 percent larger to comfortably accommodate loved ones for overnight visits. Accessible, at-the-door parking also will reduce stress and save time for visitors. “ProMedica is deeply devoted to our region’s future and by making this investment today, we can make sure that our children and grandchildren have access to the best possible care,” said Polizzi. History of Toledo HospitalProMedica Toledo Hospital, formerly The Toledo Hospital, has a rich history that dates back to 1874. The original hospital was located next to the Valentine H. Ketcham Homestead at the corner of Cherry and Bancroft streets in Toledo. The first building on the existing North Cove Boulevard campus, dubbed the Legacy tower, opened in 1930. The hospital performed Toledo's first open heart surgery in 1959 and opened its first cardiovascular laboratory in 1960. It was named a Level I Trauma Center in 1999. Toledo Children’s Hospital was established in 1994 – the region’s first children’s hospital. There have been numerous other highpoints and facility expansions over the decades, including the construction of a new emergency center in 2002 and the Renaissance Tower in 2008. ProMedica Toledo Hospital is one of the largest acute-care facilities in the region, serving a 27-county area throughout northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Site preparation for the Generations replacement tower will get underway by the end of the year. The actual construction phase is expected to start by mid-2016.

For more information about ProMedica Toledo Hospital, visit www.promedica.org.

ProMedica Toledo Hospital is a member of Toledo, Ohio-based ProMedica, a mission-based, not-for-profit healthcare organization serving northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. The 13-hospital system has more than 17,000 employees, 2,300 physicians with privileges, and more than 800 healthcare providers employed by ProMedica Physicians. Additionally its offers a health plan, Paramount, which serves 320,000 members including more than 225,000 members in the statewide Medicaid plan. Driven by its Mission to improve your health and well-being, ProMedica offers a full range of diagnostic, medical and surgical specialties in areas such as emergency medicine and trauma, heart and vascular, oncology, orthopaedics, neurology, and women’s and children’s services. The health system has been nationally recognized for its advocacy programs and efforts to raise awareness about hunger as a health issue. For more information, please visit www.promedica.org. ###

MEDIA CONTACT
Register for reporter access to contact details