Catholic clergy members and diocese staff toured Mount Carmel’s newest hospital and medical campus under construction in Dublin on Wednesday, Sept. 11.

Hosted by Bishop Earl Fernandes, honorary chair of the Mount Carmel Dublin capital campaign, the tour provided a behind-the-scenes preview of the new campus set to open in April 2025 at I-270 and Sawmill Road.

“Bringing Catholic health care to this community is very important to us,” Bishop Fernandes said. “The tenants of service, especially of charity; witness, which recognizes the power of Christ to heal; and the healing power of prayer will be present in the care delivered here.”

The bishop encouraged clergy members to make parishioners aware of Mount Carmel Dublin and learn more about the facility that opens next spring.

Jordan Smith, senior project manager for Danis, the construction company building the campus, has been involved in the planning and construction of the campus since its inception in 2021. Before the tour, he detailed some of the company’s advanced techniques and innovations employed at the site.

Onsite prefabrication of exterior walls and electric infrastructure are just two of the techniques the construction company has used to improve efficiency, safety and quality in the construction process.

“A project like this would typically take 28 months, but with the onsite prefabrication, we saved four months and the project will be completed in 24 months,” Smith said.

“Danis has been an exemplary partner to Mount Carmel,” said Deanna Stewart, president of the Mount Carmel Foundation. “We especially admire the compassionate way they treat their employees and subcontractors.”

Diocesan clergy and leaders tour the Mount Carmel Dublin medical campus currently under construction.

In two groups, participants toured the 240,000 square foot, five-story hospital, getting a first look at the chapel, operating rooms, surgery waiting area, emergency department and diagnostic areas.

“I was here for the ground blessing,” said Msgr. Joseph Hendricks, the bishop’s delegate for community relations and the former pastor at Dublin St. Brigid of Kildare Church. “I’m struck today by the amazing progress of the project and how big and fabulous and open it is, and especially all of the intricacies built in to make this a state-of-the-art hospital and medical campus.”

Msgr. Hendricks is a board member of the Mount Carmel Foundation and co-chairs the capital campaign raising funds to support the construction of the Dublin campus.

“Mount Carmel is striving to shorten hospital stays because people heal better at home, and this hospital is designed specifically to help achieve that,” he said.

Mount Carmel reports that it’s currently a leader in lowering average length of hospital stays, which average 4.6 days, a full day less than other central Ohio hospitals.

Deacon Frank Iannarino, who serves at St. Brigid of Kildare, is excited about Catholic health care being so close for his parishioners.

“Having a Catholic hospital serving our community is so welcomed. We’re excited to share what we learned today about this beautiful facility with the people we serve,” he said.

Fellow Deacon Paul Zemanek, also representing St. Brigid, said, “The overall feel of the hospital is healing. To see all of the planning that went into it and the new technology that will be used here – like the virtual nursing program – is exciting.”

Deborah Carvalho, senior development officer for the Mount Carmel Foundation, shares information on the project with attendees.

“The transformational care model that we are integrating in the new hospital will include a new virtual nursing component, which helps bedside nurses with checking on and educating patients, as well as speeding up the discharge process so our patients can go home sooner to continue healing,” Mount Carmel Foundation senior development officer Deborah Carvalho said.

“The complexities of the construction and the amount of information and energy that is takes to heal is impressive,” said Deacon Thomas Berg Jr., the diocesan Chancellor. “More importantly, God is part of the healing that will happen here. Catholic care is about mind, body and spirit. It’s uniquely strong and a pure reflection of Christ’s ministry.”

The 35-acre, $250 million hospital and medical campus will feature 60 private inpatient beds (30 when the facility opens in April and an additional 30 by August 2025); 14 emergency department beds; intensive care unit; four licensed operating rooms; 10 short stay unit beds; cardiology, neurology, orthopedics, primary care, women’s health and surgical services; endoscopy, radiology and interventional lab; community health and well-being programs; community meeting space and a chapel.

“We’re excited to bring Mount Carmel’s radically compassionate care to Dublin and the surrounding area,” Stewart said. “We believe the community is excited for this, too. We already have a waiting list of volunteers who want to work here with us.”

For more information about Mount Carmel Dublin and ways to support the capital campaign, visit Mount Carmel Dublin | Mount Carmel Health System.