UofL Health celebrated the much-anticipated opening of UofL Health –South Hospital, in Bullitt County, Ky. on Monday, March 18. The $78-million acute care hospital opened with 40 inpatient beds and shell space for an additional 20 beds. The new hospital fills an access gap in Kentucky’s 10th-most populous county, allowing local patients to get their care closer to home. Bullitt County was previously the largest county in the commonwealth without an inpatient hospital.
“Expanding access to quality affordable health care is a priority for our administration,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “The investments we have made in our health care industry help give our families peace of mind and make Kentucky a safer, healthier place to call home.”
Located directly off Interstate 65 (Brooks exit #121), South Hospital is ideally positioned to support one of Kentucky’s fastest growing regions. In addition to inpatient beds, including a 10-bed intensive care unit, the new full-service acute care hospital is bringing more providers. It will also provide enhanced heart care services, including cardiac and vascular catheterization labs and STEMI Network for faster treatment of acute heart attacks, expanded emergency capabilities including a “fast track” area for quicker treatment and discharge, expanded cardiopulmonary services, state-of-the art pharmacy, laboratory and sterile processing areas and increased surgical suites for inpatient and outpatient procedures.
“When access is improved, health is improved — and that is why UofL Health is investing in Bullitt County,” said Tom Miller, UofL Health CEO. “Our mission is to transform the health of our communities, and this hospital allows us to serve more patients with world-class and transformative care.”
As part of an academic health system, the hospital brings additional advantages, including access to a comprehensive collection of medial expertise and early access to innovative treatments.
“The need for a full-service hospital in this area is well-documented,” said University of Louisville President Kim Schatzel. “This remarkable new facility brings together expanded high-quality services and the expertise of an academic medical system. It will allow more of our doctors and nurses to serve the people of Bullitt County and the surrounding community.”
The project has evolved the existing medical center, built in 2006, into a hospital, tripling the size of UofL Health’s presence in the area, adding more than 100,000 square feet and an additional two floors. In addition to inpatient services, the new hospital also now includes all the support amenities such as food service, a cafeteria and chapel.
“This hospital builds on the legacy of care established here for nearly 20 years,” said Dorie Shelburne, UofL Health – South Hospital CEO. “Now, as a full-service community hospital, we will provide much-needed inpatient care. When an overnight hospital stay is required, most patients will be able to stay close to home and closer to their family.”
To support the expanded care, more than 150 new employees have joined the team, including nursing and ancillary positions.
“The evolution into an inpatient hospital brings convenience, but much more. South Hospital will improve quality care and medical outcomes for our patients,” said Dr. Emily Volk, South Hospital chief medical officer. “Our medical team includes specialists in critical care, orthopedic surgery and interventional cardiology, just to name a few, along with the continued connection to our larger UofL Physicians network.”
South Hospital anticipates serving patients from Bullitt, Spencer, Nelson, Meade and Hardin counties, along with southern Jefferson County. With the opening of South Hospital, UofL Health now includes nine hospitals across the system.
