Design elements of an expanded Medical Office Building being built by The University of Kansas Hospital were unveiled at the University of Kansas Hospital Authority Board meeting today.

The building, which will house The University of Kansas Physicians’ practices, was announced in July 2009 at 183,000 square feet and a $73 million cost. 

Board members were briefed today on the progress of the design of a 26,000 square foot addition to accommodate the orthopedic surgery practice.  The addition will go on the southwest part of the building, which is located at the corner of Olathe Boulevard and Cambridge Street in Kansas City, Kansas   Cost of the addition is tentatively estimated at $12 million.

Design plans also were unveiled for a 4,000 square foot front concourse to connect the new medical office building lobby to the lobby of the main hospital building on Cambridge.

“We have been fortunate that costs have come in low enough that we can absorb the cost of the concourse into the existing budget for the building,” said Jon Jackson, chief administrative officer of The University of Kansas Hospital.  “As a result, we will have a connection on the south side of the main hospital similar to the one the hospital has with the Center for Advanced Heart Care on the north side.”

The board was told that construction is on schedule for a late summer of 2011 opening. 

A “topping out” ceremony will be in July of this year.

The building is a collaborative effort among The University of Kansas Hospital, which is developing the project, The University of Kansas Physicians, which will see patients in 18 clinics within the facility, and the University of Kansas Medical Center, which will lease the majority of the building for the physicians and also build a new parking garage for patients.

“The new building elements will only enhance the patient experience.  The orthopedics addition and the connection to the main hospital will make it easier for patients to access all the clinics and services,” said Bob Page, president and chief executive officer of The University of Kansas Hospital.

“The new orthopedic expansion will have it's own private entrance right off Olathe Blvd and share adjacent space with the six story building MOB. said Kirk Benson, MD, president of The University of Kansas Physicians.

“Patients visiting the orthopedic complex will be able to be dropped off right at the private entrance or they may park in the shared 600 car parking garage attached through a skywalk into both spaces.  The design will provide a world-class patient experience as the ultimate goal.  There will be large windows, inviting open waiting areas in natural light.  The new two story addition will feature UKP's Sports Medicine division on the first floor with a large Sports Medicine Gym/physical therapy area. Dr. Benson added.

The architect is Cannon Design, which has designed several clinic buildings for academic medical centers, the engineering firm is Burns & McDonnell and Turner Construction is the contractor. 

The companion parking garage, located on the south side of Olathe Boulevard, will accommodate approximately 600 cars and open around the same time as the building. 

The budget for the garage is $9 million and will be paid for entirely by parking fee revenues, not tax money.

The University of Kansas Cancer Center received a $1 million gift from Burns & McDonnell, one of the largest engineering and design firms.

The funds will be used to established a clinical high risk prostate cancer prevention program at the Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Care Pavilion.

The donation also helps the hospital towards its goal to receive the National Cancer Institute's designation.

“Prostate cancer, cancer prevention and cancer survivorship are all important issues to the National Cancer Institute," said Dr. Roy Jensen, director of the cancer center. "The program established by this gift strengthens The University of Kansas Cancer Center’s case to take to NCI"

The center's prostate cancer program has been named as one of the 13 "Clinical Centers of Excellence" in the country by Urology Times.

“Prostate cancer affects one in six men in the United States," said Dr. Jeffrey Holzbeierlein. "This disease is the second leading cancer killer of men in the United States.  Obviously, it is only useful to screen for early detection if one either has effective treatments for the disease or has prevention strategies to decrease a person’s risk for developing the disease."

The program will expand it's personnel and an endowed fund will be established.

Eighty-five liver transplants were made at the University of Kansas hospital last year, an increase of 15 percent from 2008 and a new record.

Richard Gilroy, M.D. and the medical director of liver transplantation, said the overall volume of the liver program is up 350 percent over the past three years and transplant evaluations are five times as high from three years ago.

“The physicians and the hospital have worked together to grow the liver program," Gilroy said. "We have not only grown the capacity of the program to meet the demand, but have maintained the high quality of outcomes that patients expect of the premier academic medical center."

The University of Kansas Hospital is the only hospital in the area that performs adult liver transplants.

The University of Kansas Hospital has been honored as an Accredited Heart Failure Institute by the Healthcare Accreditation Colloquium.

The accreditation is the first hospital in Kansas or Missouri to receive the honor. It's only the ninth in the nation and the first among academic schools to be accredited since the certification program began in April 2008.

“The Heart Failure Accreditation brings quality and process improvement to the care of our heart failure patients, and in turn has positive effects on patient outcomes,” said William Reed, M.D., chairman of the Department of Cardiovascular Diseases at The University of Kansas Hospital. “By receiving accreditation, our hospital is unique and stands out in providing evidence-based care for heart failure patients with expert team members.”

Accreditation is earned through the analysis of current practices, interviews, a comprehensive report and an onsite review of the hospital.

U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran (R-KS) will visit the University of Kansas Hospital tomorrow afternoon.

Moran will visit with officials from the hospital and doctors. He will also tour the Medical Intensive Care Unit, the Center for Advanced Heart Care and the Automated Lab.

Moran is also a candidate for the Republican Party's nomination for a vacant 2010 U.S. Senate seat, which is currently held by U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS).

The University of Kansas released its 2009 annual report today.

The report, which can be viewed online here, outlines the hospital's accomplishments during the year.

"Our commitment to teaching and learning is also evidenced by our partnership with the University of Kansas Medical Center in support of its educational and research missions," said Bob Page (President/CEO) and Robert Honse (Chairman of the Board) in a letter. "In particular, we have joined with the university in its quest for National Cancer Institute designation for The University of Kansas Cancer Center, to reduce the burden of cancer across Kansas and the region. Our hospital also is sharing resources and expertise with health care providers across the state to improve the health of all Kansans through efforts such as our Surviving Sepsis collaborative program."

Among the hospital's highlights this year: dedicated its Cancer Center, being ranked number two in the country in quality by the University HealthSystem Consortium and its technology improvement in areas of breast cancer and tumor care.

U.S. News & World Report has ranked the University of Kansas as one of the "Best Hospitals" in the publication's latest ranking.

The ranking is based on patient satisifcation surveys for overall patient satisfaction, quality nursing care and pain management. The hospital appeared on all three lists.

The hospital was ranked third in "Best for Nursing Care," seventh for "Best Pain Management" and 13th for "Overall Patient Satisfaction."

“These lists show advanced medicine and compassionate care can both be part of the academic medical center experience.  It clearly shows our culture throughout the organization is focused on the patient,” said Tammy Peterman, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer for hospital.