The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center East Hospital will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday, Aug. 17 at 4:15 p.m. to celebrate the opening of a new outpatient surgery and imaging unit.

A $26 million investment, the west wing expansion project features a renovated and expanded outpatient surgery unit with four state-of-the-art operating rooms, including a hybrid operating room for interventional radiology procedures. There are 16 pre-op and post-anesthesia care bays, a new imaging suite with the latest CT, MRI and digital X-ray technology, a spacious waiting room and private consultation rooms.

“This investment is part of a long-term strategic plan to grow surgical services at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center to meet the health care needs of patients in near east Columbus and surrounding communities,” said Dr. Hal Paz, executive vice president and chancellor for Health Affairs at The Ohio State University and CEO of Ohio State Wexner Medical Center. “It’s the first in a series of community-based ambulatory surgery locations that the Wexner Medical Center will open across central Ohio over the coming years in response to the growing need for outpatient surgery services.”

Construction on the new 40,300 square-foot surgery unit kicked off in December 2018 and took 18 months to complete. The project involved the renovation of 11,800 square feet of the existing surgical area and the addition of 28,500 square feet. Located at the west entrance of the hospital, there is convenient access to parking and patient drop-off and pick-up areas.

“For more than 20 years, Ohio State has been committed to the revitalization of near east Columbus,” said Elizabeth Seely, chief administrative officer for the Hospital Division of the Ohio State Health System. “The outpatient surgery unit underscores our dedication to providing high quality care in the communities we serve.”

Surgical services in the new outpatient surgery unit include general surgery, ear, nose and throat, gynecology, urology, colorectal, plastic surgery, orthopedic surgery and vascular surgery. With its completion, East Hospital has 14 operating rooms. The new outpatient surgery unit opens for patient care Aug. 18.

“We’re excited to care for patients in our new outpatient surgery unit where we’ll provide the highest quality of care from minimally invasive procedures to more complex surgical techniques,” said Mary Howard, executive director of East Hospital. “Our clinical team is devoted to providing a superior patient experience as we continue to upgrade our facilities to meet the needs of our community.”