Mission Viejo : $14.5-Million Expansion Scheduled for Hospital

A $14.5-million expansion of Mission Community Hospital will be completed over the next several months, according to George McLay, the hospital’s executive director.

To keep pace with the population growth in south Orange County, McLay said, further expansion is planned up to 1990 with a total expenditure of more than $17 million.

McLay said one of the most important new services will be opening of a catheter laboratory, a facility “which can make the difference between life and death” for people suffering heart or vascular problems. The laboratory, which will be the only one of its kind in the area, will cost $1.1 million and is expected to be in operation about April 15.

The 212-bed hospital, a base for Orange County fire and paramedic units as well as a helicopter emergency service, also is preparing an $834,000 intensive care unit for premature babies.

Also, plans have been completed for a $2.3-million two-story building addition that will provide consolidated space for medical staff, library, a paramedic coordinator and conference rooms and will allow for expansion of the alcohol care unit from 21 to 24 beds.

Long-range plans call for a $12-million, three-story tower to be built in about five years.