Bloomington Hospital to add, reorganize units

A new orthopedics and neuroscience unit will soon make its home at Bloomington Hospital. \nMyron Lewis, executive director of Bloomington Hospital’s Regional Neuroscience Institute and Regional Orthopedics Center, said the unit, which will have several private rooms and a therapy gym, is scheduled to open in July. \nThe project will involve an existing unit that was previously leased by Select Specialty Hospital, whose program in Bloomington closed last fall. \n“We expect to have final drawings completed and approved by the State in February and for construction of the new 23-bed orthopedic and neuroscience unit to start in March,” Lewis said. \nA majority of the rooms will be private, Lewis said. It will also have a therapy gym for patients to receive physical and occupational therapy. The hospital has allocated funds to pay for the new unit, he said. \n“Each year, the hospital invests in equipment upgrades and services,” Lewis said. “In previous years, we have purchased new MRI and CT scanners, as well as built a new Women and Children’s unit.” \nSonya Zeller, executive director of Bloomington Hospital’s Regional Cancer Institute, said in addition to the new orthopedics and neuroscience unit, the hospital’s current 27-bed Acute Ortho and Neuro Unit will be converted into a medical unit. \n“Overall, the changes should lead to the addition of approximately 11 beds and additional private rooms to the hospital’s main campus,” Zeller said. \nZeller said the hospital will be able to care for more patients in Bloomington, especially those facing joint replacement and orthopedic surgery. \n“We have the expertise, the compassion, the technology and now the dedicated space to provide a high quality, positive experience for these patients,” Zeller said.