Ground broken for new University Hospitals surgical center on North Lake

AMHERST — Silver shovels were used Tuesday afternoon to ceremonially break ground of the new University Hospitals Beaver Creek Surgery Center on North Lake Street. But the real work was being done about 50 yards away, as excavators cleared huge amounts of earth within a stone's throw of state Route 2. When complete in 2024, the campus will include a two-story medical office building and ambulatory surgery center. Katherine Kirkwood, project manager for JeDunn Construction, said the surgery center will take about 13 months to finish, and the office building will take about 18 months. They will be separate buildings connected by a canopy. Right now, there are just three to five workers on site. But at the height of construction, Kirkwood expects 50 to 100, depending on the day. Kili Preitaner, regional president for UH's partner, ValueHealth, said it was exciting to see dirt moving. The two new facilities will address increasing health care costs, and are "meant to be a beacon for employers and payers," she said — the orthopedic center will ensure employees can quickly return to work after surgery. Orthopedic procedures once done in a hospital setting will happen safely in a specialty location, said Brian Monter, University Hospitals chief operating officer for the west market. UH Beaver Creek Surgery Center will include five operating rooms, a procedure room and six recovery suites, according to Dr. James Voos, chair of orthopedics for UH and head physician for the Cleveland Browns. He said up to 800 joint replacement procedures will be done there each year — such as fixing torn ACLs and shoulders, as he's used to doing. Full joint replacement patients will be able to recover overnight in "stay suites" that "are more like hotel suites," Voos said. General spine, ear, nose and throat and pain management services will also be provided on site, according to UH. Amherst Mayor Mark Costilow said UH worked with the neighboring American Legion Post 118 to make parking more accessible, procured access through the Lorain County Metro Parks' Beaver Creek Reservation next door for stormwater drainage and will have an impact on the adjacent road leading to the Amherst wastewater treatment plant. "It's going to be a great home for you and we're really happy you're here," Costilow told representatives from University Hospitals and ValueHealth. Jason Hawk can be reached at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.