New ‘microhospital’ will offer higher levels of care closer to
community
CAVE CREEK – Construction continues for Abrazo Health’s new small-scale community hospital near the intersection of Carefree Highway and Cave Creek Road. Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital is planned to open in mid-2021 and offer emergency and surgical services.
Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital is a new type of neighborhood hospital, sometimes referred to as a “microhospital,” designed with an emphasis on convenience, patient safety, surgical services and short ER wait times.
“We all prefer to receive care closer to home, and Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital will be a community hospital with around-the-clock surgical and emergency services coverage. It will have diagnostic imaging including x-ray, ultrasound and CT scanner, a lab and pharmacy, and the inpatient rooms can accommodate post-surgery or observation patients,” explained Abrazo Health’s Robbie Shappley.
“The Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital will provide a higher level of medical care beyond what’s available at an urgent care. It will be licensed and equipped similar to our larger hospitals in the Valley,” said Shappley, who currently is chief operating officer at Abrazo Scottsdale Campus.
The single-story facility at the southwest corner of Carefree Highway and 53rd Street will include a 13-bed emergency department, an operating room and eight inpatient rooms, along with additional services. When completed, the hospital is expected to create approximately 50 jobs.
The Cave Creek hospital will be Abrazo’s third microhospital, and closely integrated with Abrazo’s care network. Abrazo Health currently operates seven Valley hospitals including Abrazo Scottsdale Campus and the acclaimed Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital.
“Our goal is to provide multiple points of access for those who choose Abrazo for their care. Emergency surgeries like appendectomies and gall bladder procedures, for example, can be performed at Abrazo Cave Creek Hospital,” said Shappley.
The hospital will be capable of caring for patients of all ages, he said, and staff will work closely with first responders and EMS to serve Cave Creek and the surrounding areas.
“Patients with abdominal pain, sprains and broken bones, lacerations, pneumonia and flu are typical of the types of conditions we expect to see in the emergency department,” noted Dr. Brian Hess, medical director of Emergency Services for Abrazo Health. “This hospital will have the capability of extending care beyond the ER for lower acuity medical conditions, minimizing the need for transfers to larger medical facilities.”
Shappley noted that despite the coronavirus pandemic there is still a need for routine and emergency care.
“Abrazo continues to provide enhanced COVID safety measures and our top priority is making sure our patients, our staff and our community remain safe,” said Shappley. “We urge the community help slow the virus’ spread: wear a face mask, use proper hand hygiene and maintain social distancing.”
