The structural concrete phase for the patient tower was completed in October and now steel work can begin. The new patient tower will be a reinforced-concrete and steel structure. The first three stories are made of reinforced concrete, and the fourth and fifth stories will be structural steel. The steel is expected to arrive by the end of November. Original construction scheduling called for the work to begin earlier in November, however steel fabrication took longer than expected. The steel work will include the beam that more than 200 people signed with their names and personal messages – and sometimes small images – at our Beam Signing Celebration.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Beam Signing Celebration on Oct. 29. Many from Enloe and the community stopped by to listen to the speakers and sign the beam, which will become part our bell tower in the patient tower. We also introduced the new public art at the parking structure along Magnolia Avenue. If you have not seen it, next time you’re nearby, we recommend you take a peek. The art, created by local artists, will be on display through mid-March. We will auction off several of the pieces at our Enloe Gala on March 21. The proceeds will be split between the artists and Enloe’s Planetree fund. Check our website soon for more photos of the event, the artwork and artists, at www.enloe.org/planetree.

Thank you to Northstate Anesthesiology Partners, a group of local physicians who provide anesthesiology care at Enloe Medical Center, for their recent commitment of $500,000 to the Enloe Century Project expansion.

“Northstate Anesthesiology Partners is a group of physicians truly committed to our community. Enloe greatly appreciates their support of our expansion,” states Robert Adams, Vice President of the Enloe Foundation.

Northstate Anesthesiology Partners (NAP) also recently gave a $10,000 gift as a sponsor of Enloe’s 23rd Annual Golf Tournament, which benefits the Century Project and the Enloe Golf Nursing Scholarship. Michael Pryomski, DO, President of NAP, said the donations are expressions of the group’s support of Enloe Medical Center and the local community. “We look forward to practicing in the new surgery center that’s part of the expansion currently under construction,” says Dr. Pryomski.

The single-story surgery center will have its own street entrance, reception area and lounge that will double the existing surgical suites. It will provide dedicated heart, neurological and orthopedic operating rooms and two private surgery consultation rooms for physicians to meet with patients and families. The Century Project, which expands Enloe’s Esplanade campus, also includes a five-story patient tower; single-story emergency center; parking structure, which is now open; and an adjacent park.

Since NAP formed in March 2007, the physician group has focused on providing high-quality anesthesia services and recruiting permanent anesthesiologists to Chico. NAP now has a full complement of 14 anesthesiologists who provide services at Enloe Medical Center’s Esplanade campus and at the outpatient center on Bruce Road. Anesthesiologists optimize operating conditions to help allow for safe and effective surgery.

“We have anesthesiologists who have been at Enloe for years and those from other parts of the country who bring new perspectives and expertise in different facets of anesthesiology,” says Michael Hieb, MD, Vice Chair of the Anesthesiology Department, who was one of the early recruits and served as NAP’s first president. “Now that we have met many of our clinical goals, we’re reaching out to support community charities and services.”

We are ready for another celebration to mark a major milestone for the Century Project expansion! A Beam Signing special event will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to noon at Enloe’s Magnolia House parking lot, 1625 Magnolia Ave (at the corner of Sixth Avenue). The event will take place under a tent cover. A steel beam will be displayed for attendees to sign and will ultimately be part of the new patient tower. Enloe will recognize key contributors to the Century Project and kick off the Enloe Foundation’s New Beginning Campaign, which aims to raise $15 million for the Century Project, Planetree and scholarships. This special event will also unveil Enloe’s first public art panels project, which will be in place just across the street at Enloe’s new parking structure.

Landscaping around the Enloe Parking Structure’s landscaping was completed in September. Plants include many native species to help reduce the amount of water consumption. The irrigation system is computer-controlled and monitors air temperature, wind speed and soil moisture content to keep water use to a minimum. This is the same system that will be used throughout Enloe’s Esplanade campus. Elevator installation began in September and should be complete in November.