WellStar Kennestone Hospital is the newest player with plans to break ground in June on a $93-million, 140-bed expansion that will increase the bed count to 633, the second highest in the state next to Grady Memorial Hospital's 953 beds.
WellStar's new 140 beds will be for medical, surgical and intensive care patients, according to the hospital's prepared statement. The new construction is expected to be completed by July 2006. Also under way is a previously announced $344-million expansion by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta of its Egleston and Scottish Rite hospitals.
Michelle Robinson, a spokesperson for the nonprofit WellStar Health System, says the group's hospitals are at 100% occupancy. WellStar units include WellStar Cobb, Windy Hill, Paulding and Douglas hospitals.
Area health industry consultants tell GlobeSt.com the construction boom in hospital expansions is expected to continue for at least another 10 years to accommodate metro Atlanta's aging population along with the needs of new residents arriving to the area daily.
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