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University Hospital takes occupancy of the adult floors in the East Tower addition

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — University Hospital has taken beneficial occupancy of the three adult patient floors in the six-story East Tower addition April 20. Beneficial occupancy is the term used to signify that construction is nearly complete and that furnishing the facility can begin.

"This is a major milestone as it indicates the facility is just months away from being operational," said University Hospital Chief Operation Officer Paul Seale, who co-chairs the East Tower Steering Committee. Seale spoke to a group of reporters April 20 who toured the tower's ninth floor.

University Hospital has been receiving supplies for the East Tower for several months and shipments will continue through the summer. Moving supplies and furnishings, such as linen carts, patient beds, drug storage machines, will take a carefully orchestrated plan of action.

"While we have had to warehouse some supplies to wait until this date, much of the inventory for this new addition will go right from the delivery truck to the floor," Seale said. "That's going to save us time and money."

In addition to furnishing the expansion, the hospital will begin orientation tours for campus employees. Staff members who will be working in the new patient floor areas will be the first to be introduced to the new units. Ultimately, Seale said, the campus community will have an opportunity to see the addition before patients are admitted.

Seale said the hospital hopes to begin admitting patients to the new adult floors—cardiovascular, neuroscience, oncology—in early July.

Interior construction work on the Golisano Children's Hospital—11th and 12th floors of the East Tower—will continue throughout the summer with an opening celebration set for mid-September.

The six-story, $147-million East Tower addition will feature five patient care floors, including the two-story Golisano Children's Hospital, private patient rooms on each floor and a host of patient amenities, from family lounges, resource centers to play rooms and performance space in the children's hospital.

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