Tallest tower in town

We’ve got big news about a BIG new building coming to Lane Regional Medical Center!

But first…a note on the demolition party that happened today in front of the old Lane Nursing Home Division. Don’t worry, no residents were inside when the backhoe started tearing down the awning. There were, however, a lot of very enthusiastic doctors and nurses standing in a tent about 20 feet away, and they seemed every bit as excited as the two children in attendance at today’s announcement event. 

They have every reason to cheer. The new Lane tower will be the very first 4 story building in Zachary, and inside you will find 48 new private patient rooms, 6 new ICU rooms, and a 2nd floor dedicated to the contemporary Surgery Department. 

The Surgery Department expansion will include 4 new state of the art operating suites, as well as 15 pre- and post-surgery patient rooms. The Surgery Department will also house a brand new Endoscopy Center and Infusion Center. 

But that’s not all! The planned expansion will also include a new dining center, expanded lab and imagine areas, and a 2nd CT machine in the ER. They’re also planning UV light technology and reverse pressure areas for cutting-edge infection control. 

According to Lane Board Chair Gaynell Young, Zachary is growing at a rate of 3% every year, and the Lane service area currently includes over 200,000 residents. Lane began as a community hospital in 1960 and is the largest employer in Zachary with 850 team members. 

The United States Department of Agriculture Department of Rural Development has pledged up to 80 million dollars in rural development funds, and guaranteed 10 million dollars in low interest loans for the project. 

With this expansion, Lane will be better equipped to accommodate the region’s growth as well as update their facilities to the highest possible standard. Construction will occur in stages. Demolition of the old nursing center should be complete within about 3 weeks, and the tower itself should be finished by the end of next year. After that, the existing building will get a year-long facelift. The overall project is projected to conclude in the Spring of 2026.