Getting to the heart of the matter

Listen to this article

The Aspirus Wausau Hospital is well known for its treatments of the cardiovascular system. A recent expansion and improvement of the hospital will help the staff there continue to provide those services to the region.

The renovation and expansion project included building a 67,000-square-foot, three-story addition and remodeling 34,000 square feet of space. The three new floors include 12 new operating rooms, one hybrid operating room, a new public entrance to the birthing center and cardiac-rehabilitation section, and space for staff support. The remodeled portion includes improvements to mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems and the construction of two rooms for gastro-intestinal procedures, rooms for patent isolation and restrooms. Physician offices, locker rooms and sleep rooms were also renovated.

The Aspirus Heart & Vascular Institute was the first center in the region to offer so-called beating-heart surgery, an innovative form of bypass surgery with a high success rate. Aspirus surgeons perform about 95 percent of their bypass surgeries using the technique, whereas the rate is only about 30 percent nationally. Aspirus also established the Level I Cardiac Care Program to expedite patient treatment.

In keeping with these technological advances, the general contractor on the project, C.G. Schmidt Inc., Milwaukee, installed cutting-edge technology and equipment within the new operating rooms, allowing the hospital to perform complicated yet less invasive surgeries.

In hospitals, a priority is always placed on controlling and preventing infections, and Aspirus is no exception to that rule. With construction occurring literally next door to ongoing hospital operations, dirt and bacteria were controlled using partitions, negative air and walk-off mats. Preventing and controlling infections required constant communication and coordination with hospital staff, patients and visitors.

The construction schedule also relied heavily on the hospital’s schedule. Construction phases were coordinated to allow the hospital to operate as efficiently as possible.

Aspirus Wausau Hospital has been able to serve as a healthcare center for the region. The facility’s medical professionals serve 450,000 residents in a 14-county region. The new expansion will help ensure Aspirus continues to be up to the task.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cazuBilDbg8&w=620&h=465]