On Thursday, July 11, members of the UAB Health System and local officials traveled to West Jefferson County to cut the ribbon on UAB Medical West’s new, state-of-the-art, full-service hospital facility.

Over the next few weeks, UAB Medical West will complete its transition into the new facility and begin serving West Jefferson County in August 2024.

A new facility for UAB Medical West

In 2021, UAB Medical West officially became an affiliate of UAB Health Systems in a $51.25M deal to pave the way for the construction of a new, state-of-the-art facility. Founded in 1964, UAB Medical West’s former campus is now 60 years old.

“To move to our new campus marks a novel chapter for our health care facility.

Our new facility offers West Jefferson County residents and beyond access to unparalleled technology, health care and services that will meet our patients where they are.

We could not be prouder to continue the legacy of UAB Medical West and continue to grow and serve.”
Keith Pennington, CEO, UAB Medical West

Located at 5000 Medical West Way, UAB Medical West’s new campus includes:

A 412,000-square-foot, nine-story hospital facility with 200 beds
A 127,000-square-foot, seven-story medical office building
A new surgical and endoscopy suite
Robotic surgery and 12 operating rooms
State-of-the-art imaging technology
Additional intensive care beds
And more

“UAB Health System and UAB Medical West are committed to our patients, employees, associates and caregivers to provide access to transformative health care.

This new world-class facility enables us to further our mission and vision to provide life-changing care and be the leader in improving the health and lives of the residents of the western part of our community and beyond.”
Dawn Bulgarella, CEO of UAB Health System and the UAB/St. Vincent’s Alliance

“Designed around nature”

As Bham Now learned during our behind-the-scenes tour of the new UAB Medical West campus in June, the facility was designed to represent nature and drew inspiration from Alabama’s native plants, such as the beloved Cahaba Lily at the nearby Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge.

“Our new facility was designed around nature. Each floor was designed around flora native to the state of Alabama.

It features a pond with walking trails, floor-to-ceiling windows in patient rooms, rocking chairs fireplaces — it is a true space of wellness and healing not only for patients, but for our staff members, visitors and our entire community.”
Keith Pennington, CEO, UAB Medical West

Each of UAB Medical West’s floors is named after a plant native to Alabama—the taller the plant grows, the higher the level in the facility:

Level 01 — Cahaba Lily (Emergency Department | Dining | Registration | Gift Shop | Pharmacy | Imaging | Lab)
Level 02 — Wild Hyacinth ( Surgical Services | Coffee Shop | Chapel | Parking Deck Connector)
Level 03 — Azalea (Women’s Services)
Level 04 — Oak Leaf Hydrangea (Intensive Care)
Level 05 — Honeysuckle (Geriatric Psychiatry Rehabilitation)
Level 06 — Flowering Dogwood (6th Floor Patient Rooms)
Level 07 — American Wisteria (7th Floor Patient Rooms)
Level 08 — Southern Magnolia (8th Floor Patient Rooms)
Level 09 — Tulip Poplar (9th Floor Patient Rooms)