Huntington, W.Va. - This fall, Cabell Huntington Hospital plans to build a five-story, 187,500 square foot North Patient Tower that will replace many of the hospital's acute care beds and double the size of its emergency/trauma department.

The project, which is expected to cost $84 million, will also include the renovation of space currently occupied by the acute care beds.

"As Cabell Huntington Hospital approaches its 50th anniversary, it is clear we must invest in our facility to bring it in line with the latest advances in modern medical care and to better meet the changing needs and expectations of our patients and their families," said Brent A. Marsteller, president and chief executive officer.

"Medical care and technology have changed significantly since we opened our doors in 1956. Consequently, we must make significant changes to embrace these new technologies and to position Cabell Huntington Hospital as the community's hospital of choice for the next 50 years."

The first floor of the North Patient Tower will house an expanded emergency and Level II trauma department. It will attach to the hospital's current emergency department adding 17 new rooms (for a total of 44) and increasing the department's size from 14,500 square feet to 30,000 square feet.

The second floor will house a new 40-bed post-surgical nursing unit; the third floor will house a 35-room labor/delivery/recovery unit; the fourth floor will house a 20-bed adult ICU, a four-bed cardiac care unit and a 16-bed critical care stepdown unit; and the fifth floor will house a 36-bed neonatal ICU and a 20-bed medical nursing unit.

The space vacated when those departments move to the North Patient Tower will then be renovated to create remodeled units. Additional space for new family waiting areas and sleep rooms for on-call resident physicians will also be provided.

The percentage of private rooms at Cabell Huntington Hospital will increase from 47 percent to approximately 90 percent and the number of staffed beds will increase from 268 to 303. The project is also designed to improve traffic flow within the hospital and to make the entire facility more aesthetically pleasing and accommodating to patients, families and visitors.

Construction of the North Patient Tower is expected to begin in October and be completed in 2007.