Earlier today, Valleywise Health celebrated a momentous milestone in the public safety net healthcare system’s 140-year history as they completed the first phase of construction on the new Valleywise Health Medical Center. To mark the occasion, a ceremonial topping out event was hosted by the healthcare system to show a live broadcast of the final beam being put into place by Kitchell, the lead construction company on the project.
READ ALSO: Valleywise Health named ‘LGTBQ Healthcare Equality Leader’
After breaking ground on construction just one-year prior on February 26, 2020, the topping out marked the next step to completion of the 673,000-square-foot, 10-story medical center that is slated to open in 2023. The new state-of-the-art facility is being constructed adjacent to the current medical center and will continue to service the healthcare needs of the community during construction. Among the many improvements are housing the renowned Arizona Burn Center at Valleywise Health all on one floor with its own external entrance, advancements to the Level 1 Trauma Center and enhancements to the overall patient and visitor experience.
Funding for the new medical center came as a result of the resounding response of voters approving Proposition 480, which provided Valleywise Health (formerly Maricopa Integrated Health System) more than $900 million to transform the Valley’s public teaching hospital and safety net system of care. Beyond the world-class healthcare services Valleywise provides to the community, it is also the state’s only public teaching hospital. This new facility will only further the ability for future physicians and nurses to get the training they need through state-of-the-art devices and upgraded amenities.
“Although there is much work to complete, this is a very momentous day for all of us at Valleywise Health and within the community,” says Steve Purves, President and CEO, Valleywise Health. “Our physicians, nurses and staff work so hard each day to provide exceptional care to our patients, and the prospect of this new facility provides a lift to us all as we see such a bright future for our system and the care we will be able to deliver to the residents of Maricopa County. We are thankful for the support of the community and voters who got us to this point and cannot wait until we open our doors in 2023.”
In lieu of a traditional in-person event given the pandemic, the virtual ceremony was broadcast live from the roof of the current Valleywise Health Medical Center featuring interviews with Steve Purves, Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Michael White and Kitchell Project Director Phil Glenn. Congratulatory videos were also shown from leaders Governor Ducey, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, ASU President Michael Crow and Phoenix Police Chief Jeri Williams to name a few. The full ceremony can be viewed on Valleywise Health’s website.
For more information on Valleywise Health, visit valleywisehealth.org.
