Over the last seven years, the number of patients who have visited the emergency department at Sharp Chula Vista Hospital has increased by nearly 40 percent.
Hospital officials said patients who need to be admitted often have to wait for a bed.
That's what prompted Sharp Chula Vista to launch a major expansion. The hospital will break ground on a seven-story, $244 million tower later this week.
The tower will add 138 private patient rooms, which represents a 42 percent increase in capacity. The tower will also feature six operating rooms.
Sharp Chula Vista CEO Pablo Velez said the tower will make a big difference.
"In terms of serving the community and expediting efficient care, we’ll have the ability to move more patients through our system," Velez said.
The project is said to be Sharp HealthCare's largest single investment to date.
Officials said the funding comes from a combination of philanthropic donations, bonds, cash reserves, and the Medi-Cal Hospital Fee Program.
The tower is expected to open for business in late 2019.
