FLAGSTAFF, Arizona (AP) – Northern Arizona Healthcare plans a major expansion on the south end of Flagstaff, including a new state-of-the-art hospital, outpatient services and future health and wellness village.
The healthcare system operates the only level 1 trauma center in northern Arizona at Flagstaff Medical Center, which serves 700,000 people in an area of 129,500 square kilometers. The downtown Flagstaff campus was last expanded 25 years ago and has run out of space to grow, hospital officials said on Friday.
A new campus is planned on Interstate 17 near Fort Tuthill, a popular Coconino County park near Flagstaff Airport. Flo Spyrow, the president and general manager of Northern Arizona Healthcare, said the move will help meet future needs and better care for patients, more than half of whom are from outside Flagstaff.
“Equally important is that this exceptional level of care is right here near home, negating unnecessary travel for those who count on us every day,” she said in a statement.
The coronavirus pandemic highlighted some of the challenges the hospital faced when it came to ventilation, negative pressure and lack of patient separation.
The hospital, like others around the country, also struggled to meet staffing needs during the pandemic. Officials said they were working on plans to better recruit and retain nurses and offer more attractive salaries.
“We want to create an environment where care is really easy, and we believe this is a competitive advantage going forward,” said Josh Tinkle, chief administrative officer of the health system.
The new campus on 76 hectares will include more single rooms in the hospital, more daylight, modern infrastructure, a communal area and residential development and, according to official information, will highlight wellness and innovation.
The project, which will begin with the new hospital and outpatient department, is in the zone phase and will not be completed for a few years. A contractor will be selected in June, said Steve Eiss, vice president of construction and real estate development. The construction is expected to create hundreds of jobs in a few years.
Northern Arizona Healthcare said it will work with the city of Flagstaff to redesign the downtown campus.
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