R.M. Schulze Family Heart and Stroke Critical Care Center
Our Vision for Impact
Every 33 seconds, one person dies from heart disease. Every 40 seconds, one person experiences a stroke. Elevating Heart, Vascular, and Stroke care at NCH is a necessary initiative to treat our community with critical medical needs right here in Naples. We will:
- Provide top-tier cardiovascular and stroke care for patients with increasingly complex conditions.
- Advance treatment on interventions and rehabilitation, leading to new targets for clinical care. Patients will have access to advanced screening capabilities and procedures, plus the option to participate in clinical research trials.
- Test and improve our protocols using data analytics to continue pushing the limits of responsive and innovative models that dramatically improve patient outcomes.
- Develop the next generation of cardiologists and share our knowledge through our education initiatives.
OUR NEW HOME
at a glance
- 180,000 sq. ft. of clinical and educational space
- 4 state-of-the art operating rooms and 2 stroke biplane rooms
- 54 fully private inpatient rooms, including 7 suites for more comfortable stays
- 4 catheterization labs and 4 electrophysiology labs
- A 300-seat auditorium
- 6 education and conference rooms
- Direct access to our brand new, dedicated Neurovascular Intensive Care Unit (16 beds)
A New Era of Innovation and Excellence at NCH
Led by Dr. Robert J. Cubeddu, the Brynne and Bob Coletti Endowed Chair for the President of the Rooney Heart Institute, and Dr. Mazen AbuAwad, the John and Susan Morrison Endowed Chair for the Wingard Stroke Institute, the R.M. Schulze Family Heart and Stroke Critical Care Center will incorporate new technologies and efficiencies with 100% private rooms. Leading through our core values of clinical excellence, research, education and innovation, we are committed to our roots as an independent, community-responsive health system:
- World-Class Team. The facility will unite a range of services to diagnose and treat the full spectrum of conditions, integrating compassionate care with clinical research to give our patients access to pioneering treatments. It will be staffed by a strong multidisciplinary and collaborative team and strengthen the alliance and integration between employed and independent providers.
- Clinical Research and Education. The facility will elevate a robust clinical research and education program to further promote innovation and excellence at NCH. Clinical research will ensure our community has access to the latest therapies in cardiac and stroke care, and our cardiology fellowship program will help develop the next generation of physicians to serve our community here in Naples.
- Integrated Stroke & Vascular Services. Timely diagnosis and control of cardiovascular risk factors is the top priority for the prevention of acute stroke. A strong partnership between interventional neuroradiologists, vascular surgeons, and cardiologists is essential to providing comprehensive care and will thrive within this new facility.
What we need to achieve this vision
We have a strong foundation, but we need to make additional investments in our facilities, people, and equipment to truly elevate cardiac and stroke care at NCH. A new facility for these services is essential for well-coordinated and fully integrated care. We must build a state-of-the-art home for cardiac and stroke care. Today, our services and teams are spread out in multiple buildings, negatively impacting the patient experience, reducing efficiencies, and increasing the risk of error. Housing these services under one roof puts our patients first and provides them with the high-caliber care they deserve.
Let's build a healthier tomorrow, together!
The heart, vascular, and stroke care facility operates with the generous support of our donors. Fueled by donor support, we look forward to enhancing the delivery of cardiovascular care and helping more people in our community. To the many donors who have supported heart and stroke care, thank you
Construction timeline
Early stages of permitting, completing the project design and material procurement so the overall construction project schedule is still in development and, with all projects of this magnitude, will be fluid.
Currently the project team is reevaluating the sequencing of the work to expedite the construction of the Hospital and shorten the overall timeline.
Specifically looking to start the Parking Garage in advance of the North lot and overlap with the foundations of the Hospital.
Challenge due to the very tight site, limited material staging space and limited areas suitable to place cranes.
Current DRAFT schedule below. Site Utility, FPL and Telford will proceed as scheduled regardless of the initiative to expedite the Garage.
- Site Utility and FPL work has started and will finish 1st QRT 2025 (3/27/2025)
- Telford Demolition to start, pending permitting, in 1st QRT 2025 (2/10/2025)
- Telford Demolition complete in 2nd QRT 2025 (5/30/2025)
- North Parking Lot work to start 2nd QRT 2025 (3/28/2025)
- North Parking Lot work to finish 4th QRT 2025 (12/30/2025)
- Hospital work to start 3rd QRT 2025 (7/1/2025)
- Hospital work to finish TBD QRT 2027 (3rd – 4th QRT) – working with contractor to validate to finalize permitting, construction durations and substantial completion timeline
- Parking Garage work to start 1st QRT 2026 (1/6/2026)
- Parking Garage work to finish 4th QTR 2026 (12/29/2026)
Traffic/parking routing and limitations in brief
The construction team will route construction traffic to avoid 6th Street North. There will be 2 – 3 utility connections needed in 6th Street North during the first half of 2025. These traffic impacts will be minimal and traffic flagman will be placed.
The construction team will minimize traffic on 2nd Ave North and 4th Ave North limiting traffic West of 7th St North.
Contractor parking on neighborhood and adjacent streets will not be permitted. Construction laborers and staff will be directed to park offsite and shuttled to the site.
NCH will provide shuttle service to NCH employees and valet services will be provided to customers.
Upcoming Neighborhood Meetings
- 01/09/2025 – Tentative
Who to Contact with Questions
The email address for questions specific to the R.M. Schultz Heart, Stroke, and Vascular Institute project is: neighbors@nchmd.org
Anyone with questions related to this project can send emails to that address and we will be monitoring. If there is an urgent issue that cannot wait to be resolved, free to call Matt Holliday’s mobile 239-826-7864. We will do our best to respond quickly to all calls.
