Health System Launches 2 Million Expansion Project
UW Health Breaks Ground on New University Row Medical Center
In a significant development for healthcare provision in Madison, Wisconsin, UW Health has commenced construction on the University Row Medical Center, a substantial expansion of its existing Digestive Health Center. This ambitious project, with an estimated budget of 2 million, reflects UW Health’s strategic emphasis on enhancing patient access and improving the quality of care.
Officials have described the University Row Medical Center as a key component in a broader initiative aimed at vacating the current aging facility and upgrading the health infrastructure to accommodate the growing demands of the community. The new four-story clinic is designed to serve as a comprehensive primary care hub, featuring a range of services, including adult and pediatric primary care, urgent care, advanced imaging and laboratory services, physical rehabilitation, and an on-site pharmacy.
The relocation of several specialty practices from the current facility to the new center is an interim measure intended to streamline operations and enhance patient access to diverse medical services. Notably, services currently offered at UW Health West Towne Clinic, including urgent care, will also transition to the University Row Medical Center, thus consolidating essential health services under one roof.
Katrina Lambrecht, the Chief Administrative Officer of UW Health, emphasized the critical need for modern facilities capable of meeting the increasing demand for healthcare. “With over four million appointments annually through our outpatient clinics, having adequate facilities is essential to ensure we continue to provide remarkable care,” Lambrecht stated.
The construction is expected to be completed by late 2027, with the first patients anticipated to begin using the new facility in early 2028. This expansion is part of a larger string of development projects by UW Health, which is concurrently enhancing its other hospitals to better serve the steadily growing population of the Madison area.
At University Hospital, a new six-story building is underway, which will include 22 emergency department rooms, 22 flexible care beds, and 48 inpatient rooms, aimed at bolstering the facility’s trauma and life support capabilities. Similarly, East Madison Hospital is expanding with an additional one-story structure, providing six new operating rooms and enhancing inpatient capacity.
Furthermore, the American Family Children’s Hospital is set to unveil an upgraded sixth floor, which will expand its pediatric intensive care unit and introduce a specialized cardiac intensive care unit, with 24 new beds set to be operational by early 2027.
In another collaborative effort, UW Health partnered with UnityPoint Health – Meriter and Lifepoint Rehabilitation to construct a new, free-standing inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Fitchburg. This new 40-bed facility is strategically located within a 10-mile radius of 70% of Dane County’s population, complementing the existing rehabilitation hospital in eastern Madison that has been operational since 2015.
Overall, UW Health’s extensive redevelopment efforts signify a forward-thinking approach to healthcare delivery, positioning the organization to better meet the evolving needs of its community while reinforcing its commitment to high-quality patient care.
