Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood will expand, adding 150 more patient beds to relieve the emergency department backup, 22 new operating rooms to accommodate high-tech equipment, and more prep and recovery bays to care for those undergoing surgery.
The board approved the $670 million expansion of the system’s flagship hospital on Wednesday evening after the project had been on the drawing board for more than three years.
Construction will begin in October, the surgery tower completed in March 2029, and the connector to the main hospital finished in April 2031, according to a timeline presented to the board by Mark Greenspan, Memorial’s vice president of Construction and Property Management.
“The expansion plan is the culmination of many meetings and discussions,” Greenspan said.
Broward County taxpayers will not be taxed additionally for the construction costs of the Memorial Regional Hospital Surgical and Patient Bed Tower, and there are no plans to issue a general obligation bond. Instead, the expansion will be financed by the system’s cash flow. A chart presented by Greenspan shows a gradual buildup of annual expenditures with costs peaking in 2029. Memorial Healthcare System generated over $484 million in earnings for fiscal year 2025.
In recent years, beds in the hallways of the emergency department and long waits for admission have become problematic, as reflected in Greenspan’s presentation. The hospital also had antiquated wiring in the operating room, necessitating an upgrade as new technology has become available to support surgeries. The hospital began with 100 beds and has since grown to become the flagship facility of the Memorial Healthcare System with 863 beds.
“This is a game changer for Memorial Regional,” said Shane Strum, interim CEO of Memorial Healthcare System. “It will improve the efficiency of surgery and has been well thought out with input from the physicians, clinicians and nurses. We will be able to provide the best healthcare possible.”
The improvements to the 72-year-old hospital fulfill a need for more private rooms, a hybrid operating room for advanced imaging, and the modernized infrastructure needed to house robotic machinery used for surgeries. The hospital recently underwent a $68 million renovation and upgrade of its family birthplace.
The 404,000 square feet of construction of the new tower will take place on land already owned by Memorial Healthcare System, adjacent to the existing Memorial Regional Hospital. Joe DiMaggio Hospital, also located on the Hollywood campus, underwent an expansion and renovation in 2022, adding 156,000 square feet and four floors to the existing hospital.
South Florida Sun Sentinel health reporter Cindy Goodman can be reached at cgoodman@sunsentinel.com or 954-304-5908. Follow her on X @cindykgoodman.