Ascension to open vascular center, expects fewer COVID-19 cases
Ascension St. Vincent’s Riverside had two great pieces of news to share with the area’s historic neighborhoods on Monday: The completion and upcoming opening of a brand-new, $55 million center for heart patients, and what officials believe to be a falling off of new Coronavirus infections.
Ascension has completed its new, $55-million Delores Barr Weaver Heart and Vascular Pavilion at its hospital campus in Riverside. The pavilion is directly connected to the hospital and officials plan to celebrate its opening the first week in May. And while Ascension had originally made contingency plans to use the 60 new beds – 30 earmarked for intensive care unit (ICU) patients and 30 for medical and surgical patients – for Coronavirus patients if needed, they no longer think that will necessary.
“If it were needed, it could be flexed up to 60 ICU beds,” said Tom VanOsdol, president and CEO of Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast, and an Avondale resident. “But, based on the volume we’re seeing today, it’s not going to be needed for Coronavirus patients. We are going to be able to maintain our Coronavirus patients. The statistical model updated on Friday and it indicates we may already have seen the surge (of new patients). We believe we are going to be able to manage through this safely.”
He said the center was made possible through the generosity of many donors, including its namesake, as well as St. Vincent’s employees. St. Vincent’s operating budget also paid for the center. For more information about the center and the Coronavirus impact on our neighborhoods, check out the upcoming May edition of The Resident.
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading... 
