The project, which is scheduled for completion in late 2007, includes the addition of 42 inpatient beds, which will allow the hospital to offer its patients private rooms. Plans also call for the neonatal intensive care unit to expand from eight beds to 16, allowing Abilene Regional to begin offering the highest level of care possible to premature and sick babies.

“This project will improve an already-great cardiology program and it will also provide the only NICU within a two-hour drive,” said Michael Smith, project manager with Arlington-based Ascension.

Plans also call for expanded capacity in the hospital’s cardiology, telemetry and gastroenterology units. The project also will include an outpatient surgery center.

 “We are looking forward to improving the service and convenience for patients and their families through this new construction and renovation,” said Xavier Villarreal, chief operating officer and project manager for Abilene Regional.

Abilene Regional is owned by Plano-based Triad Hospitals Inc. Ascension has overseen many hospital projects for Triad, including the recently completed $101 million Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Alaska.