Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center today broke ground to signal the official start of construction of a new 26,500-square-foot surgical facility at Wake Forest Baptist Health – Lexington Medical Center. The project will replace the current operating rooms, which are almost 40 years old.
The state-of-the-art surgical facility will include four fully-digital operating rooms that can accommodate various types of procedures and specialties. In addition, a 10-bay post-anesthesia care unit, a urology procedure room, a waiting area for families, and consultation rooms for physicians and family members will enhance the care provided at Lexington Medical Center.
“We are excited to now be breaking ground on this state-of-the-art facility, which will accommodate additional surgeries and procedures and will provide a much better experience for our patients and their families,” said Julie Ann Freischlag, M.D., CEO of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and dean of Wake Forest School of Medicine. “We know that the Lexington community has needed and deserved a new surgical facility for quite some time so this will ensure that people in Davidson County and the surrounding areas continue to receive a full range of specialized care and treatment, from outstanding surgeons and physicians, close to home.”
The $31.5 million project is jointly funded by Wake Forest Baptist and local philanthropy. A capital campaign is underway to raise $3 million through the support of the Lexington community.
“We have been inspired by the outpouring of support from those within our community, who recognize this opportunity to invest in health care for themselves, their neighbors and their loved ones,” said William B. James, president of Wake Forest Baptist Health – Lexington Medical Center. “Being involved in building this new facility will be an experience that we can all look back on and be proud of as we’re helping make sure we can effectively meet the future health care needs of our friends in our community and those throughout the region.”
The new surgical facility – located adjacent to the outpatient surgery center entrance on Emergency Drive – is being built away from the current surgical services area, so surgeries will be able to continue while construction is taking place.
Once construction is completed, the four existing operating rooms will be converted to procedure rooms.
Lexington Medical Center is working with Rodgers Builders of Charlotte and Little Diversified Architectural Consulting, also of Charlotte. Both companies have extensive knowledge and experience with hospital design and construction.
The surgical facility is expected to open in fall 2019.
Media Relations
Joe McCloskey: jmcclosk@wakehealth.edu, 336-716-1273
Eryn Johnson: eryjohns@wakehealth.edu, 336-713-8228