SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. — A new hospital will save lives and save patients a drive to downtown Louisville.
A new hospital in Bullitt County increases the number of health care services available to residents of Shepherdsville and surrounding communities.
UofL Health’s South Hospital not only fills a much-needed health care gap for Bullitt County, it closes the gap on Tara Neuner’s commute. “Commuting downtown for 18 years, it’s been wonderful and I’ve learned a lot but it’s so nice to be closer to home,” Neuner says of the new hospital.
After 18 years of driving from Shepherdsville to downtown Louisville, Neuner’s new commute takes less time than walking from one end of the hospital to the other. .
Neuner is the new Manager of Education, leading the team that hires and trains much of the health care staff. Prior to the opening, Bullitt County was the largest and fastest growing in Kentucky without a full-service hospital. South Hospital offers 40 inpatient beds, including 10 intensive care beds. And there is room for expansion.
The new medical center is a time saver and, more importantly, a lifesaver for residents in Bullitt County and surrounding areas. “Any patient with chest pain we can work them up to see if they are having a heart attack and we will be able to activate that cath lab, get out staff in and get that patient treated here versus those sitting in our ER waiting for EMS to come and pick them up to take them downtown,” Neuner explained. “Time is so important when it comes to strokes, heart attacks, sepsis.”
South Hospital has a new cardiac catheterization lab, vascular lab, a total of six operating rooms and a new pharmacy.
UofL South Hospital is a $78 million facility, with 100,000 more square feet than the previous medical center. Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., joined UofL Health executives for the opening to cut the ribbon and officially begin to treat patients at the new facility which includes an expanded E.R.
“The evolution into an inpatient hospital brings convenience, but much more. South Hospital wil improve quality care and medical outcomes for our patients,” Dr. Emily Volk, South Hospital chief medical officer said in a statement.
The hospital opening added 150 jobs and Neuner says she is still hiring. “We plan to keep hiring staff as we grow and expand.”