Lexington, Ky.-based UK HealthCare, the University of Kentucky's healthcare system, has received the state's blessing to add 120 hospital beds, according to a Lexington Herald-Leader report.
The report notes that the state reviews hospital expansion plans to ensure that they line up with Kentucky's overall health plan.
In this case, the addition of 120 beds will bring UKHealthCare's total bed count to 945, and is the next phase in the patient tower project that began in 2004, according to the report.
UKHealthCare has consistently experienced more than 80 percent capacity of its patient beds, and adding the 120 beds will help meet future needs at Albert B. Chandler Hospital, Kentucky Children's Hospital and UK Good Samaritan Hospital, which are all in Lexington, according to LEX18.
Besides adding 120 beds, a plan to convert four acute-care beds to Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit beds, which will increase Kentucky Children's Hospital's NICU from 66 beds to 70 beds, has also been approved, according to the LEX18 report.
More articles on healthcare finance:
5 strategic advantages of improved facility management in healthcare
CMS finalizes Basic Health Program funding methodology for 2016