Parkview Health on Friday announced plans to invest $14 million to finish an additional 37,000 square feet inside Parkview Regional Medical Center.

The investment brings the project’s total price tag to $550 million.

The new north-side hospital, northeast of the Dupont Road-Interstate 69 interchange, is scheduled to open March 17. Officials said some finish work on the latest project will extend beyond that date.

The space – on the third and seventh floors – was originally designated for future growth. But the non-profit health system’s study of health trends and current regional needs persuaded officials to speed up the build-out.

When average hospital occupancy exceeds 80 percent, hospital officials know they are limiting capacity, said Sue Ehinger, chief operating officer for both Parkview’s Randallia Drive hospital and the new regional medical center.

Patient demand is being driven by aging baby boomers, she said Friday.

Although the building will still have unfinished areas that can be turned into operating rooms, it doesn’t have any more space designated for future patient rooms. But Ehinger isn’t worried.

“It doesn’t make me nervous,” she said. “We have future plans should we ever have to build more units.”

The project will add 36 medical/surgical beds on the seventh floor, bringing the hospital’s medical/surgical capacity to 144 – not counting cardiac beds. The build-out also will add 12 intensive care unit beds to the third floor, bringing the ICU total to 87 – not counting 14 beds that can be used for critical care, if needed.

Officials aren’t sure how many jobs will be created by the additional patient rooms because that will be driven by occupancy, Ehinger said. Parkview now employs about 4,200 in Allen County. That number is projected to jump to 4,450 when Parkview Regional Medical Center opens next month.

Additional jobs – including nursing, dietary and housekeeping – will likely be phased in over the following months, she said.

sslater@jg.net