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Henderson, Nevada –Just about 18 months ago (February, 2014), Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican, Siena Campus, broke ground for a new patient tower expansion. Six weeks ago, this newly named “Dominican Tower” was dedicated by Bishop Joseph A. Pepe of the Diocese of Las Vegas. Present for the blessing were 17 Dominicans, including two from San Rafael and one Adrian Associate. Just two weeks before the blessing ceremony, the Siena Campus celebrated its 15th anniversary.

Sister Xiomara Méndez-Hernández, OP, chaplain, (second from left) watches as Bishop Joseph A. Pepe blesses the water to dedicate the new Dominican Tower.

On September 9, the first floor of the Dominican Tower opened and received its first patients. This floor houses a very much needed Emergency Department, doubling the capacity of the previous ED. Also on the first floor are expanded cardiovascular and radiology services.

Over these next 60 days, the staff will take occupancy of floors 2-4. The fifth floor is being held open for future growth. Once the new tower is occupied, the older building (now called “Adrian Tower”) will be refurbished and will get infrastructure upgrades. Along with the 56 emergency bays, the new five story tower adds 96 private rooms, bringing the total to 326.

Sister Kathleen McGrail speaks during the dedication ceremony.

The opening of the Dominican Tower brings to completion a four-year renovation and expansion project of the Siena Campus. A year ago, a new parking garage was built and two years ago the hospital celebrated the opening of the expanded Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. As a positive impact upon the community, the Dominican Tower will create an estimated 300 jobs for Southern Nevada.

Aside from the number of beds and rooms and the state of the art equipment, what we are mostly celebrating is the continuation of the 68-year heritage of St. Rose Dominican.  Since its humble beginnings as a 60-bed hospital with seven of our sisters in 1947, the hospital has continued to respond to the needs of the people and to grow accordingly.  The same quality, compassionate, Catholic health care deeply rooted by our Founding Sisters to serve those most in need continues to this day and much beyond.