As part of its 25 anniversary celebrations, Littleton Adventist Hospital announced on April 24 a $30 million project that will renovate the atrium, expand cardiac services and add parking.
“Our community continues to grow, and unfortunately there are some disease states that continue to grow,” CEO Brett Spenst told a group of community leaders attending a meeting of the Littleton Business Coalition. “What we’re trying to do is prepare for the future.”
Spenst explained that the hospital will go forward with a focus on “population health,” defined as the health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of those outcomes. He noted that the age group of 55 to 85 is the most rapidly growing in the south-metro area, and they are most in need of medical services.
To that end, the hospital is expanding cancer care, cardiac and surgical services and radiology. There will also be added “hybrid” operating rooms, which Spenst called a less expensive environment than a traditional OR.
Earlier, the group heard from the hospital’s Dr. David Vansickle, a leading expert in deep-brain stimulation. It’s a process of inserting electrodes into the brain to control symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, essential tremors and similar neurological disorders. He explained that the very first such procedure done robotically was performed at Littleton Adventist, allowing the patient to sleep through it for the first time.
“It was sort of the holy grail,” said Vansickle.
Jason Dunkel, the hospital’s director of business development, said it’s a great example of the hospital’s positive presence in the medical community.
“Clearly we have grown up, and we’re proud of our hospital and the service we offer,” he said.
He said this round of renovations will be lean projects designed to improve efficiencies rather than big, obvious additions as in the past.
“We will need a parking structure eventually,” he said.
Most obvious to the general public will be a modernized lobby and more conference space, often used by outside groups like LBC.
He noted that the health of the community is an important consideration for business leaders, affecting sick time and cost of benefits.
“Our mission is around spiritual care,” he said of the hospital’s Adventist affiliation. “… There are many patients who come into our care with diseases that can’t be cured, but they can leave healed. Our highest priority is making sure we hire people who are a good cultural fit.”