St. Paul hospital plans surgery center renovation

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A St. Paul hospital is planning to spend more than $18 million to renovate it operating rooms and expand its surgery center.

United Hospital will actually cut the size of operating rooms from 20 to 18, but each room will grow from 350 to 600 square feet and accommodate addition surgery equipment.

Hospital vice president Robert Plaszcz the operating rooms are the “economic engine” for the hospital and need to be maintained. United Hospital is operated by Allina health system in Minneapolis. The board of directors expects more than $11 million will be raised through philanthropy.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press says the expansion should be finished in April 2013.