RSFH Opened Front Doors to New Heart & Vascular Tower

On Monday, May 22, Roper St. Francis Healthcare opened the front doors to its new Heart & Vascular Tower, located at Roper Hospital's downtown campus, 316 Calhoun St.

The new Tower is the central location for all Roper St. Francis Heart and Vascular Services. It also houses a new outpatient surgery center and offers first-rate patient and guest amenities. Select patient care areas began moving May 20, with all moves to be complete by May 27.

"An experienced, professional team of hospital movers has been hired to ensure minimal interruption to patient care and hospital operations," said Matthew J. Severance, Roper Hospital CEO and Vice President of Operations.

Patient care areas will move in three phases as follows:

• Weekend of May 20 (Note: These areas are now open and began receiving patients and guests Monday, May 22.)

Ambulatory Surgery; Cardiac Cath Labs; Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU); Chest Pain Observation Unit; Outpatient Cardiac Care Unit; Non-invasive Cardiology; and Vascular Services, including Lab and Practice, Wound Care, and Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBO).  The new Gift Shop, located in the lobby, has also relocated. Gift shop hours are from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily.

• Week of May 22- The areas currently housed on 7 South and 5 East (Surgical Nursing Units); 6 Pettit, 6 South and 6 East (Intermediate Care Units).  Also moving into the Tower this week, Congestive Heart Failure and a 5th Floor Pharmacy, which is a satellite operation to serve the cardiovascular operating rooms and recovery areas.

• Weekend of May 27 - Cardiovascular Operating Room, Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit and Cardiovascular Post Anesthesia Care Unit (CVICU/CVPACU) and Endovascular Lab.

Valet Parking
Complimentary valet parking for patients began May 22 and is provided Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. at the Tower’s entrance on Calhoun Street.  Family members and visitors are offered the valet service for a fee, or they may self-park in either the nearby Doughty or Lucas Street garages.  Parking is complimentary for all patients.

Ambulatory Surgery
A special patient/visitor entrance for ambulatory surgery is located to the left of the Tower’s main doors.  Patients will use this entrance both for admission and discharge. 

Admitting/Registration
Offices for Inpatient Admission and Outpatient Registration are located at the rear entrance of Roper Hospital, across from the Doughty Street garage.  Individuals wishing to access these offices directly may use either the entrance nearest the Doughty Street garage or the new Tower entrance on Calhoun Street.

Patient Information
Upon entering the Tower’s main entrance doors, patients and visitors will be greeted at the Patient Information Desk where they will receive assistance and directions concerning patient and department locations throughout both the new Tower and the existing Roper Hospital.

Directional Signage
A new, custom-designed way-finding system will enable both patients and visitors to navigate the new Tower.  On each floor, a Tower Directory is located beside visitor elevator banks, providing a complete listing of departments and services within the 7-story structure. 

Throughout the Tower, a system of overhead and wall-mounted signage with directional arrows points the way to various departments and units.  Signage with directional arrows is also provided at each tie-in between the new Tower and existing hospital. 

Volunteers Being Sought
Individuals who are interested in learning about volunteering at the Roper St. Francis Heart & Vascular Tower can obtain information on the Volunteer section of our website or contact Mitzi Neely, Volunteer Coordinator, at 843-724-2080.

ABOUT ROPER ST. FRANCIS HEART & VASCULAR TOWER
The new Roper St. Francis Heart and Vascular Tower is an innovative one-stop center for patients seeking prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care.  Expansive operating rooms,  specialized patient care units, diagnostic and interventional treatment labs, and an outpatient vascular center incorporate all of Roper St. Francis heart and vascular services into one specialized building.
The Tower, which houses 147 large, private patient rooms, also includes:

• A new ambulatory surgery center with six operating rooms
• A new Chapel, portions of which were saved from the former Roper Hospital chapel and reused to provide a sense of continuity
• A large, new gift shop, complete with hardwood floors and wood trim
• The Julian T. Buxton Jr., MD, Surgical Pavilion