Baptist Health Paducah announces $19 million surgical expansion project
FOX23 News at 9 p.m
PADUCAH, Ky., (KBSI) — Baptist Health Paducah has announced plans for a $19 million renovation and expansion of its Surgical and Central Sterile departments to meet growing demand for advanced surgical procedures and increase access to care in western Kentucky.
Construction is expected to be completed in fall 2027.
The project includes two new da Vinci robotic operating rooms, a new Siemens biplane operating room for advanced endovascular procedures, and the relocation and expansion of the hospital’s Central Sterile department. Upgrades will include new sterilization equipment, additional preparation and packing space, new washers and disinfectors, sterilizers and other instrument-processing technology.
“This investment reflects our ongoing commitment to providing high-quality, advanced surgical care for our patients,” Baptist Health Paducah President Kenny Boyd said. “By modernizing our facility and expanding our capabilities, we are better positioned to support our surgical teams and meet the growing needs of our patients.”
Hospital officials said the expansion will help accommodate increasing demand for both traditional and robotic-assisted surgeries. More than 14,000 surgeries were performed at the hospital in 2025, including more than 1,700 robotic procedures.
The addition of three operating rooms is expected to improve efficiency and expand patient access to advanced surgical care.
Baptist Health Paducah currently offers robotic-assisted surgical technology across multiple specialties, including general surgery, gynecology, urology, pulmonary medicine, neurosurgery, cardiology, thoracic surgery and ear, nose and throat care.
“This is an exciting time for our operative department,” said Dr. Brad Housman, vice president and chief medical officer. “We continue to lead the community in surgical specialties and are excited to expand our operative services.”
Hospital officials said the expansion of the Central Sterile department will support the increased volume of surgeries by providing additional capacity to clean and sterilize surgical instruments.
Baptist Health Paducah has continued investing in surgical technology since becoming the region’s first hospital to perform open-heart surgery in 1985. The hospital introduced its first da Vinci Surgical System in 2008 and has maintained accreditation as Paducah’s only Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery since 2017.
Ray Black & Son will serve as the project’s general contractor.
