LMH Construction Update Weeks of Jan. 27 and Feb. 3: Changes in Campus Parking (added 1/31/20)

We are excited to begin renovations at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital campus for the new ambulatory surgery center and lobby. As you may have seen, a number of planned activities have begun at the campus, the most significant of which are resulting in changes in parking on the campus for employees and physicians. In addition to outlining the parking changes below, we have also included a high level overview of all activity that should provide a framework of what to expect during the overall construction process (12 mos). It is important to note, that there will be no interruption in patient care during construction. 

Changes in Parking at LMH

To ensure a safe environment during construction for patients, employees and staff, as well as appropriate parking and ease for our patients and visitors, all employees and physicians will park in the upper right parking lot effective February 1. Signage will be installed January 31-Feb 1 to direct visitors to park in the back lot by the Urgent Care entrance.

Beginning this weekend, the lower lot off of Governors Ave will be used as a staging area for construction and materials, impacting parking. This morning, Jan. 31, traffic cones were laid out marking off the “no parking” area. Later in the day on Friday, jersey barriers and fencing will be delivered and installed in the lower lot. As you’ll see indicated in the attached document, this area will be utilized for all construction equipment for the duration of the construction process.

Patient Parking and Drop-off

A patient drop-off area and handicap parking will be available at both the main entrance and the Urgent Care entrance. Please see the map. 

Overview of Activities

Below is a high level outline of the expected construction process for the ASC. We recognize that all construction projects include many moving parts and can be noisy at times, but we remain committed to ensuring this project is completed in the least impactful way possible to our neighbors and surrounding community. 

February-March

• Construction Site Perimeter Established
• New temporary entrance in-use (2/17/20)
• Interior demolition complete (March)

April-June

• Steel frame addition erected (April)
• Joining of new build with existing structure 

July-September

• Existing structure external work: wall, windows, siding, canopy (August)
• New handicap parking, patient drop off, and pedestrian entrance re-open (September)
• Initial landscaping installations (weather dependent)

October-December

• Finalize landscaping improvements (October – November)
• Interior lobby renovations complete (December) 

We will continue to keep the community informed of changes and/or updates as they occur. If you have any questions, please email them to community@melrosewakefield.org.  

Ambulatory surgery center approved by Medford City Council

October 16, 2019 – The Medford City Council approved the site plan and special permit required for the construction of an ambulatory surgery center at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. The unanimous vote paves the way for the 16,000 square-foot joint venture between MelroseWakefield Healthcare, Shields Health Care Group, and the Tufts Medical Center Physicians Organization. The one-story ambulatory surgery center will be located within the existing footprint of Lawrence Memorial Hospital and will include new state-of-the-art operating rooms and procedural rooms for outpatient surgery.

Extended Urgent Care

Lawrence Memorial Hospital Urgent Care has extended hours! We are now open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The urgent care entrance is next to the previously used emergency department entrance.

Advancing Local Healthcare

Lawrence Memorial Hospital’s plans for a major investment in advancing local healthcare in Medford continue. This includes building an ambulatory surgery center in partnership with Shields Health Care Group and Tufts Medical Center physicians, and transitioning hospital services to bring greater focus on providing high-quality outpatient services patients are seeking to one convenient location.

The Ambulatory Surgery Center project will bring ease of access to high quality day surgery and in a lower-cost setting for patients needing same day surgeries and procedures locally, avoiding inconvenient, costly trips to Boston. The proposed single story building with three operating rooms and two procedure rooms will provide a convenient, local setting for many of the region’s finest surgeons to perform their surgeries, including those from Tufts Medical Center.

Services Offered by the Ambulatory Surgery Center

The new ambulatory surgery center will provide many high-end common procedures offered by specialists in orthopedics; ear, nose and throat; GI and plastic surgery. It will provide the opportunity for surgeons utilizing the ambulatory surgery center to create physician office space, providing one convenient location for surgery, follow-up appointments and physical therapy, and any other related tests such as blood work or imaging.

Bringing more services to Lawrence Memorial Hospital for all ages

The Ambulatory Surgery Center is a major step in support of our vision to continue a robust health care presence in Medford by bringing more of the types of services to Lawrence Memorial Hospital that serve the community’s needs today and for the future

The development of the ambulatory surgery center paves the way for plans to bring more physician and outpatient services to the existing Lawrence Memorial Hospital building, including family medicine and internal medicine physicians, cardiology, and women’s health specialists, to name a few. This is in addition to the existing physician services in neurology, endocrinology and diabetes care, sleep medicine, lab and radiology, 3D mammography and urgent care.

Ambulatory Surgery Center key benefits include:

• Bringing services and vibrancy back to the campus as a healthcare provider and employer. This is great for both our community and the City as a whole.
• As a joint venture with highly regarded Shields Health Care, the Ambulatory Surgery Center will bring renowned Tufts Medical Center surgeons and physicians to care for our patients in our own community.
• The Ambulatory Surgery Center at Lawrence Memorial Hospital serves as an example and commitment to addressing the rising cost of healthcare by keeping healthcare services local.