As construction at The University of Tennessee Medical Center begins for the region’s first dedicated Heart Hospital, representatives at the medical center want to make sure everyone is aware of the minor changes that will occur during the work project. Work is expected to begin at the West entrance of the medical center Nov. 17 and last until the Heart Hospital opens in 2010.

“We do want to assure everyone in East Tennessee that all services and departments will remain open and easily accessible at The University of Tennessee Medical Center during the construction of the heart hospital,” said Norman Majors, senior vice president and chief administrative officer at UT Medical Center. “The Heart Hospital will be of tremendous benefit for education, prevention and treatment regarding cardiovascular disease for families throughout our community. We do apologize for any inconvenience due to the construction, but we’re putting several elements in place to make it very easy for people to see loved ones and go to appointments at the medical center.”

While the doors typically used at the West Entrance will close during construction, Watson says the medical center is putting two highly visible covered walkways up to guide visitors into the medical center.

Map of UT Medical Center with Construction Changes 

Here are a few other changes to expect and directions to help those coming to the medical center.

Changes to Expect

• All medical center parking areas will remain open throughout construction, although the location of entrances to a few lots will change due to construction.
• All patient discharges, with the exception of Endoscopy, will exit through East Circle entrance. Endoscopy patients will exit through the Emergency Department entrance.

Directions

For ADMISSIONS:

• Park in Visitor Parking Lot 1 at the West Entrance and follow the covered walkway into Building A. Parking also is available at Visitor Parking Lot 2.

For MRI/ENDOSCOPY/NUCLEAR MEDICINE/RADIATION ONCOLOGY:

• Park in the MRI Parking Lot at the West Entrance and follow the covered walkway into the medical center.

For ALL OTHER VISITORS:

• Parking is available in any general visitor parking lot or garage. If you park in Visitor Parking Lot 1, follow the covered walkway into Building A.

FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE

• During normal business hours wheelchairs will be provided. Additional transporters (6) will be at Visitor Parking Lot 1, MRI Parking Lot and the East Circle.
• Valet parking will be available at the West Entrance.
• A crossing guard will be available during normal business hours to assist visitors parked in Visitor Parking Lot 2.

To view a map of the medical center showing the Heart Hospital construction area or for more information about UT Medical Center’s Heart Hospital, log onto www.utmedicalcenter.org/hearthospital.  

Click here for your map of UT Medical Center during construction.

The University of Tennessee Medical Center is a 581-bed, not-for-profit academic medical center, which serves as a referral center for Eastern Tennessee, Southeast Kentucky and Western North Carolina. The medical center, the region’s only Level I Trauma Center, is one of the largest employers in Knoxville. For more information about the University of Tennessee Medical Center, visit online at www.utmedicalcenter.org.