Neighbor Newspapers
2/12/2008
Saint John Health System's decision to build a five story hospital at 61st Street and South Aspen Avenue has generated community excitement and high expectations.Groundbreaking ceremonies are set for Feb. 15. However, a long-term player in the health field reminds residents that its facility at 91st Street and SH-169 offers full service, and this week opened a model birthing center. "Saint Francis Hospital South is three miles from the heart of Broken Arrow," Senior Vice President Joe Neely told a Wednesday luncheon meeting of the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce. The extensively remodeled former Saint Francis Heart Hospital is about four expressway lanes east of Southcrest Hospital. Neely said the southeast portion of Tulsa County is growing so fast there is plenty of room for competition, including Saint John/Broken Arrow. "I'll be at their groundbreaking to help welcome them to the community," he said. "Nowhere is growth as concentrated as it is in this area, including Wagoner County," Neely told the Ledger, "and ultimately patients will benefit from the number of full-care hospitals available. "Being in a highly competitive environment is not a worry for us," he said. Saint Francis remains active at its downsized 3000 South Elm Place location, Neely reminded his chamber audience, even though the former Broken Arrow Medical Center scored only two percent market share as an inpatient facility. "Saint Francis has been committed to Broken Arrow since 1977 and remains committed today. "We continue to offer services in the hospital building as well as the medical office buildings," he said. "There are physicians practicing there and up the street in the old Springer Clinic building. "At Saint Francis/Broken Arrow we offer physical, occupational and speech therapy; laboratory services, complete imaging and radiology services and an urgent care center that is open seven days a week. "Monday of this week we saw 53 patients in urgent care and we have been averaging 27 visits per day," Neely said. A sleep lab is the latest South Elm Place offering. "People with sleep disorders come into the hospital at 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., spend the night with various monitors affixed to their bodies and leave the following morning."
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