Groundbreaking for New Helipad held October 16

HSHS St. Mary’s Hospital ceremonially broke ground on the new location of the helipad on the hospital campus on Wednesday, Oct. 16. The hospital plans to move the helipad from the south side of the campus to the north side to be closer to the emergency department and remove barriers to patient transfer.

“The new helipad is directly adjacent to the emergency department, so flight team transport will be much faster and more efficient,” said Tim Layman, Chief Administrative Officer at St. Mary’s Hospital. “This will save time in critical moments when every second counts.”

The hospital recently announced a $90 million modernization project that includes:

• Four new state-of-the-art operating rooms with advanced technologies for enhanced efficiency.
• Redesigning the Post-Anesthesia Recovery Unit.
• Adding two ultramodern GI labs.
• Relocating the Central Sterile department closer to the rest of surgical services.
• Relocating the hospital chapel to the main lobby for ease of access.

“The updates we are making will launch St. Mary’s Hospital into a new era of health care,” said Chad Markham, HSHS Central Illinois Market Chief Operating Officer. “This sets the hospital up to provide health care the way people want it – convenient, competent and caring.”

Layman and Markham were joined by HSHS Central Illinois Market CEO Matt Fry, hospital board members, contractors and other HSHS leaders for the groundbreaking ceremony.