StoneCrest Medical Center is Expanding - Again.

StoneCrest Medical Center in Smyrna is expanding to add 26 medical-surgical beds and four surgical suites.  This addition will raise the hospital's total bed count to 101.  Twelve of these new beds will be go the maternity unit, which currently only has nine beds.  The surgical volume at StoneCrest is up 33 percent since 2004 and outpatient visits at the facility have more than tripled to 36,000 annually.  Two of the surgical units will be outfitted immediately.  The other two surgical units will be completed as the need arises.  Work on these two surgical suites is scheduled to begin in May with completion approximately 11 months later.  The buildout for the medical-surgical beds is scheduled to begin this month and be completed in January 2009.  It is anticipated that the additions will create 75 new jobs as well as add $15 million to the local tax base.