HCA Healthcare is putting the finishing touches on the design of a hospital in Franklin that will replace the current Angel Medical Center facility.
HCA acquired property for the replacement hospital at One Center Court in November 2019. Current plans are to finalize the design and construction documents this summer. Groundbreaking at the site could begin by the end of the year, with opening targeted for 2022, hospital officials say.
“It is pretty rare for a community to have the opportunity to build a new, $68 million hospital,” said Angel CEO Karen Gorby. “We’re looking at fourth quarter 2022 for the move. It could be sooner.”
The new facility is designed to be more efficient and patient-friendly.
“In the very beginning, we looked at all the data linked to what the projections would be five years out,” Gorby said. “We saw that the area of growth was in [people] 65 and older.”
With that senior population in mind, the new hospital is designed to enhance mobility with an emphasis on easy access. The current hospital can be difficult to navigate.
“You’ll walk through the door, and all the services are right inside,” Gorby said. “We wanted to keep outpatient on the first floor and have inpatient services upstairs, creating a quieter environment.”
Current patient rooms are about 60 percent of the size they should be, Gorby said. Larger rooms will make it easier to accommodate families and will allow staff more space in which to work.
Tech enhancements and upgrades, including real-time monitoring systems for surgeons, are also part of the plan.
“Smart tech” systems in rooms will also keep patients updated in real time about daily plans for their care, including the nurse and doctor on duty.
“We couldn’t support that tech in the current space,” she said.
The facility’s design incorporates local heritage and landmarks.
“The interior of the new AMC started to evolve when I spent two days with our design team from HCA Healthcare in early March,” Gorby said. “We worked with an interior design inspiration board, reviewed renderings, and made decisions about materials and finishes, with the goal of making our new space convey warmth and comfort.”
HCA has no firm plans on the fate of the current hospital.
“As we get closer and start construction, we’ll look at that,” Gorby said. “We’re taking it one phase at a time.”