Woodbury hospital's addition is opened early, already full

All eight patient beds in Woodwinds Hospital in Woodbury -- beds that opened Tuesday -- were filled today because of a spate of seasonal illnesses and delayed surgeries.

Star Tribune

Last update: January 9, 2008 - 9:17 PM

The eight new patient beds in a Woodwinds Hospital expansion in Woodbury were filled Wednesday because of a spate of seasonal illnesses and delayed surgeries.

The new beds opened Tuesday, two days earlier than planned, because more patients with respiratory illnesses are filling all east-metro hospitals, said Tom Schmitt, operations executive at Woodwinds.

An open house planned for today was canceled.

The hospital, near Interstate 494 on Woodbury's west side, now has 86 beds. Schmitt said the $3.5 million expansion project, which started last fall, resulted from a continuing need for more beds in Woodbury. A survey the city commissioned last summer showed Woodbury was underserved with medical services compared with several nearby cities.

All patients occupying beds in the new area come from the Woodbury area, Schmitt said. But he also said other east-metro hospitals are filled to capacity. That includes Woodwinds' sister hospitals, St. John's in Maplewood and St. Joseph's in St. Paul.

KEVIN GILES

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