Mayo Clinic
Jacksonville has unveiled its new facility.
latest expansion
, a $378 million project that added five floors to the main patient tower.
The “vertical expansion” will add 166 patient beds in medical and surgical wards, along with advanced automation and enhanced patient care technologies, as stated by Mayo.
“Mayo Clinic
continues to invest
In the areas of growth and healthcare transformation, including a strategy to nearly double our facilities dedicated to patient care, biomedical research, and education in Florida,” stated Dr. Kent Thielen, CEO. “The buildings we are constructing currently will cater to the needs of today’s patients as well as those we will attend to across many future generations.”
Here are some key points:
What was the reason for needing the Mayo expansion?
The project received approval from the national Mayo Clinic Health System board in February 2022 as part of its
Bold. Forward. Unbound
. upcoming healthcare approach that delivers solutions to more patients whenever and wherever they require them.”
“To harness the full power of these innovations to benefit patients, we are transforming physical and digital health care infrastructure into the 21st century and beyond, investments to revolutionize the health care experience for patients and staff,” according to Mayo.
According to Mayo Jacksonville spokesperson Tia Ford, the board’s actions in 2022 allocated a sum of $432 million for the expansions of the hospital, central utility plant, and laundry facilities.
In what ways will the Mayo expansion directly affect patients?
According to Mayo, new technology transformed patient rooms into “extensions of the care team,” allowing patients to manage “every aspect of their room experience through an app on their smartphones.” This tech also monitors vitals of sleeping patients, reducing disturbances, and enables family members to join patient care discussions remotely.
Below are additional technology enhancements in patient rooms, as outlined by Mayo.
- A contemporary digital display for patients that involves them in their clinical data, educational content, communication tools, relaxation options, and entertainment.
- A digital entrance display system that retrieves up-to-date information directly from the electronic health records and provides details aimed at safeguarding patients along with caregivers and guests who are accessing the room.
- A smart camera enhanced with ambient clinical intelligence that integrates various sensors onto one platform, transforming patient rooms into centralized hubs for virtual care delivery.
Even the windows in patient rooms contribute to the healing process.
The floor-to-ceiling windows in the updated rooms boost natural light by 80%, aiding in enhancing patients’ spirits and accelerating recovery. Additionally, certain rooms offer pleasant vistas.
What advantages will the expansion offer to hospital employees?
Enhanced technological advancements and spatial improvements boost workflow and efficiency, allowing personnel more time for patient care instead of focusing on administrative duties. Autonomous carts autonomously deliver meals and linens upon request, as stated by Mayo.
Additionally, the extension features an indoor/outdoor lounge area on the uppermost level designed for both employees and guests.
Staff members at Mayo Clinic, each with distinct roles and responsibilities, were involved in the planning and development stages of the expansion. According to the clinic, their contributions were “crucial.” These individuals assisted in “designing, testing, assessing, and putting into practice advanced technologies aimed at addressing the unsatisfied requirements of both patients and personnel.”
“The expansion represents a daring reinterpretation and roadmap for the future of healthcare provision, developed alongside the combined expertise of those deeply involved in it,” stated Dr. Michael Maniaci, a professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. “Through integrating the perspectives of both our team members and patients, we have established an environment where innovation isn’t just conceived but put into practice, guided by the individuals it impacts.”
How many rooms does Mayo currently have in Jacksonville?
The addition of five floors increased the patient tower’s capacity to 419 licensed beds. This extension features one level designated for potential future development and another dedicated to housing mechanical and electrical equipment.
The facility launched in April 2008 with six stories and 214 beds. By 2012, an expansion had added two more levels along with 90 extra beds.
Is more expansion underway at the Jacksonville clinic?
Ford mentioned that two more projects are scheduled for completion this year, with both set to take place in a facility currently under construction and anticipated to be operational by summer.
One of them will be the pioneer.
carbon ion treatment facility
According to Mayo, “this occurs in the Western Hemisphere.”
Carbon ion therapy kills cancer cells “that are resistant to traditional radiation therapy.” It can also “precisely deposit this treatment into the resistant tumor while minimizing the dose to adjacent healthy tissue … [which] makes it ideal to treat cancerous tumors in sensitive parts of the body,” Mayo said.
The other project is a biomanufacturing hub for
cancer immunotherapies
and advances in transplantation.
“Cancer immunotherapy drugs don’t directly target cancer cells,” Mayo said. “Instead, they enhance the body’s immune cells, improving their ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells.”
Where are Mayo’s other locations?
Aside from Jacksonville, Mayo also has
major campuses
At its facility in Rochester, Minnesota, and in Arizona, as well as at an outpatient clinic
London
Mayo additionally maintains a regional system of healthcare centers that cater to populations in southern Minnesota, western Wisconsin, and northern Iowa.
[email protected], (904) 359-4109
The article initially appeared in the Florida Times-Union.
How hospital growth, along with new tech implementations at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, are benefiting patients.
