|
|
Living in Greater Omaha
|
Date:
|
|
|
Healthcare
|
|
|
|
|
The state of Nebraska is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 healthiest states. While the general health in the region has a great deal to do with the overall activity level of Greater Omaha residents, much of it also has to do with the superior and accessible healthcare options available.
The success of Nebraska’s current healthcare system was built on a foundation laid by Greater Omaha. The Greater Omaha health system includes 15 hospitals, including the state’s only medical centers and Children’s Hospital and Medical Center. This nexus of medical care, education and research has helped Greater Omaha develop one of the finest integrated healthcare systems in the U.S.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) is a nationally recognized research facility that has dynamic programs in bioterrorism response, cancer research and transplantation. Since 1999, UNMC has added two new research facilities and a new transplant center at its midtown campus. Currently, a new UNMC hospital is under construction in Bellevue, which is directly south of Omaha and within the Greater Omaha MSA. This growth and expansion mirrors the growing reputation of UNMC’s programs, expertise and grant funding.
In addition, the Creighton University Medical Center offers a comprehensive medical center that includes nationally recognized programs in many of the same areas as UNMC, including cancer and bioterrorism response, thus creating a complimentary environment for conducting the highest quality research possible. Very few cities have two medical centers with the caliber of UNMC and Creighton.
Investment in the healthcare industry in Greater Omaha has exploded in recent years with over $500 million in expansions and new facilities annouced in the past two years. The metro's largest healthcare employer, Alegent Health, opened it sLakeside Hospital in late 2004 and is already constructing a $52-million addition scheduled to open in 2009. Each of Alegent's four additional metro locations are also expanding, which represents half of the metro's total healthcare investment. Other new facilities being constructed in the metro area include Methodist Health System's new Women's Hospital and West Dodge Medical Center.
|
|