Sutter plans medical services expansion

Article Last Updated: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 11:28:20 pm PDT
By Sarah Arnquist

FAIRFIELD - Health industry executives announced Tuesday another multi-million dollar injection into Solano County's medical services.

The Sutter Regional Medical Foundation announced plans Tuesday for a $42.5-million Solano County expansion that includes new medical office space for new physicians in Fairfield and Rio Vista.

Health industry executives from Kaiser, NorthBay Healthcare and Sutter Health committed millions in recent months to expanding health care services in Solano County.

"The (population) expansion and need for health care in Solano County is going to be very strong and we're trying to be responsive to that need," said Carolyn Appenzeller, Sutter Foundation's chief operating officer.

The expansion will boost the Foundation's ability to recruit the best and brightest new doctors, Appenzeller said.

"With this new round of funding we can now add the new medical facilities and state-of-the art equipment necessary to attract the best medical and technical talent to care for Solano County patients," said John Ray, the foundation's chief executive officer.

Sutter Regional Medical Foundation is a locally governed and managed affiliate of Sacramento-based Sutter Health, a network of physicians and hospitals in Northern California. Sutter Health has a $5.7-billion plan to replace and expand much of its medical infrastructure.

Solano County's expansion plan includes constructing a 50,000-square-foot medical office building and administrative offices next to the $35 million medical office, outpatient surgery and diagnostic imaging center on Chadbourne Road in Fairfield that opened last fall. The foundation will add another physician to Rio Vista and another dozen in Fairfield and Vacaville.

The Solano Regional Medical Group, the county's largest multi-specialty group practice and a Foundation affiliate, plans to move from its current location on Empire and Pennsylvania Streets to the new medical building by October 2007.

Dr. Samuel Santoro, Solano Regional Medical Group president, said the expansion will provide seamless care throughout the county.

"These new facilities are very exciting to physicians as they offer us the space and equipment to attract the most talented physicians and take health care in Solano County to the next level," Santoro said.

Reach Sarah Arnquist at 427-6953 or sarnquist@dailyrepublic.net.

Proposed health expansions to Solano County

NorthBay Healthcare

-- $10.8 million VacaValley Hospital Emergency Department expansion that will triple the ER to be completed by 2007.

-- New Center for Primary Care near Waterman Road in Fairfield to be complete in 2006.

-- Plans for a 20-acre Green Valley Medical Campus with a new hospital, medical office building and conference center.

Sutter Health Affiliates

-- Opened new $35 million medical office, outpatient surgery and imaging center Chadbourne Road in Fairfield in fall 2004.

-- Will build a new 50,000-square-foot medical office building adjacent to the building on Chadbourne Road.

-- Building a 60,000-square-foot cancer center and medical office building in Vallejo to be completed this fall.

-- Will add clinic space for 12 new doctors in Fairfield and Vacaville.

-- Will add a doctor to Rio Vista.

Kaiser

-- $350 million Vallejo Tower Expansion: 460,000-square-foot expansion will add 188 new hospital beds opening 2008.

-- $300,000 million Vacaville Hospital and Medical Center: 460,000 square foot hospital with 150 beds and 217,000 square foot medical office building opening 2009.

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