During our July 22 IS and RESO Open Forum, the RESO team from California presented on Project Blossom. The project is a partnership between Providence and Kaiser Permanente to build a state-of-the-art replacement hospital for Providence St. Mary Medical Center, currently located in Apple Valley, California.
Together, these two organizations are in the planning stages to build a new hospital centrally located in Victorville on acreage purchased in 2007. Our existing hospital in Apple Valley does not meet the 2030 seismic requirements and it was determined that it was neither financially nor operationally feasible to bring it into compliance.
Jeff West, vice president of California real estate operations, outlined the High Desert market’s significant health needs, access issues, and unemployment challenges. Kaiser Permanente has 80% of the commercial membership in this market. Further, physician recruitment is a challenge. Jeff shared that this ownership structure will be a 70/30 split with Providence having the majority. Day to day management will remain with Providence St. Mary. The new hospital will retain its Catholic identity and will continue to follow the Ethical and Religious Directives.
Suzanne Schwab, land use and planning director, outlined how the new site influences health and wellness. Her work with the local jurisdictions having authority established key partnerships to address the social determinants of health and influence the design of the new facility to better serve the community. Future development of the 98-acre site will be a positive catalyst for improving this area. The medical campus is expected to be about 30-acres, providing opportunity for a variety of supporting uses on the remaining site.
The future hospital and medical campus will intentionally connect to the rest of the site—creating a Health Oriented District.
Mike Siwek, regional director design and construction management, shared the details about the project. The hospital is planned for 255 beds with emergency department, radiology, and operating rooms. The project also includes outpatient services and consideration for two to three medical office buildings.
Planning for the site will take into consideration environmental constraints such as extreme wind and heat, views of Mt. San Antonio, and opportunities to integrate open spaces. Moreover, the project will expand care and services to the High Desert community of Southern California.
The project team engaged in interviews for architect selection in July. Once approved by the board in December, the team will engage in design. Construction is tentatively planned to kick off in 2023 with occupancy in 2027.