By Dan Hounsell

There is growth, and then there is GROWTH.

For a recently announced hospital expansion and construction, changes in demographics and demand are prompting officials to make a huge leap to meet the growing challenge.

A $250 million, multiyear expansion of the Saint Francis Hospital South campus in Tulsa set to begin soon will add 200,000 square feet, more than double the number of patient beds, and renovate and expand its surgical and other facilities, according to Tulsa World.

Construction will begin this year, with completion currently slated for 2025. The 104-bed hospital opened in 2008. The project will include: a new patient bed tower adding 120 new beds; renovation of surgery services and expansion to eight operating rooms; consolidation of the pre- and post-anesthesia units; and expansion of inpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation services.

As the population in south Tulsa, Bixby, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas has grown, the facility has done its best to keep up, providing its suburban and rural patients with close-to-home care, officials said.

In addition to adding more space at Saint Francis South, the goal is to improve on the patient experience. The key to achieving that goal will be lowering the number of patient transfers out of the hospital to the Yale Avenue campus, while expanding its ability to serve patients from outlying areas, officials said.