Norton Suburban to transform into women and children's hospital

LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- New details of Norton Suburban Hospital's transformation into a women and children's hospital were announced Tuesday.

The Dutchmans Lane facility will feature a redesigned neonatal intensive care unit and a Breast Health Center. It will also have four pediatric operating rooms and a pediatric emergency room, as well as a renovated adult E.R. It will also have units dedicated to treating migraines and eating disorders.

The facility will be called Norton Women's Hospital. The pediatric area will be called Kosair Children's Hospital -- St. Matthews.

The renovated hospital is also supposed to have a floor plan described as "spacious" and "open," with plenty of natural light and green spaces.

Norton Healthcare says patient care won't be affected while renovations are underway. And it stresses that the hospital will continue to serve men for emergency and inpatient care, cancer treatments, outpatient surgery, and other procedures.

The renovation plans still face approval from Norton's Board of Trustees, zoning officials, the state fire marshal, and others. The renovations are expected to start this summer and be completed in the first quarter of 2014.