Building boom continues for SE Valley medical facilities

by Angelique Soenarie - Jan. 8, 2009 07:48 AM
The Arizona Republic

While most of the Valley is mired in a building slump, one industry appears to be bucking the trend.

Twenty five years ago, John Kressaty had only one choice for medical care in East Mesa. Now he has nearly a dozen.

Kressaty, who has had two open-heart surgeries, volunteers at Banner Heart Hospital, just a few miles from his home.

The specialty hospital, formerly Lutheran Heart Hospital, opened about eight years ago, pioneering a trend of hospitals opening or expanding along the U. S. 60 corridor, following the population boom as it moves east.

Since 1990, Mesa has seen 58 percent population increase, according to the U.S. Census, and healthcare is now the state's second largest employer.

"Hospitals tend to follow population and tend not to be built unless there is a place to support that," said John Rivers, chief executive officer of Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association. The state's bed ratio is 1.9 beds per 1,000 population, which is actually lower than the national ratio of 2.7 beds, according to the American Hospital Association.

But the Southeast Valley is catching up.

In the last year, two community hospitals opened, and four specialty hospitals are on the drawing board. In addition, several existing hospitals are adding more beds and operating rooms.

"The demand for health services won't change because of the down economy," said John Harrington, chief executive officer at Banner Heart Hospital. He added that the two new hospitals in east Mesa, Mountain Vista Medical Center and Banner Gateway Medical Center, have helped meet more an increased demand for medical care.

"The need to construct was there," said Harrington, who recalls that in the mid 1980s, the Leisure World retirement community was the only major business in East Mesa.

Now, Mesa and Gilbert are benefitting from the number of jobs the healthcare industry is bringing. Banner Baywood Medical Center employs 997 Mesa residents and 323 Gilbert residents in its 2,113-member workforce.

That number doesn't include other jobs provided by community and specialized medical facilities in Mesa.

Banner Health is Mesa's second largest employer, with 9,100 jobs. That number will grow with the opening of the new Banner Children's Hospital in the fall.

For Kressaty, who moved his family from Wisconsin, quality medical care and education were at the top of his list in checking out places to live.

Little did he know, those preferences would pay off. He is now a volunteer at Banner Heart Hospital.

"I chose Banner Medical Center because it was highly rated. I always look for medical facilities to be close by," he said.