Kadlec Regional Medical Center is busier than at any time in its 66-year history and very close to operating at licensed capacity. Kadlec’s peak occupancy has been over 90% in recent weeks, and Kadlec is averaging occupancy rates of about 80%, well above the state's target figure of 70%.

Over the past year, Kadlec’s demand for inpatient services has grown 13 percent. And, in the first quarter of 2010, patient volume is rising even higher than expected. To keep pace, Kadlec has added more than 300 new employees in the past 12 months.

“Several factors are driving all this growth – new services, new physicians which improves access, consistent high quality, and the region’s expanding population,” said Rand Wortman, Kadlec CEO. “Many of our people are working overtime to keep up with demand.”

Last spring, the medical center announced plans to expand its recently completed River Pavilion patient care tower. Kadlec leaders expected it would take a year to get state approval and another year to obtain financing and complete the architectural design, so construction would start in 2012. “We no longer believe we have that much time,” said Wortman. “The increased need for inpatient treatment, if not addressed soon with other innovative solutions, will result in patients routinely being transferred out of the Tri-Cities. There have been a number of times where patients treated in our emergency department, who could have been treated at Kadlec if beds had been available, have been transferred to Walla Walla or Spokane.”

Wortman said Kadlec designed the River Pavilion with the ability to build out space for 49 additional beds over the next five years. “The plan was to take our older semi-private rooms out of service and create all private rooms. What we didn’t fully anticipate is the region’s exploding population growth. Now, less than two years after opening the River Pavilion, we’ll soon be at or near full capacity.”

The older semi-private rooms are still usable. And, to meet clear need, Kadlec is ready and able to put 49 more licensed beds into service by this summer – without any additional capital investment. But that requires state regulatory approval.

“Obtaining Department of Health approval is our top priority,” said Wortman. “We simply cannot wait for a new building to be finished to put those beds into service. The community needs them right now.”

Kadlec still plans to build out the upper four floors of the River Pavilion, which would create 114 new private rooms resulting in an all private room hospital.