Upstate Carolina Medical Center is considering a major expansion of its intensive care unit.

The Gaffney hospital recently purchased brand new beds for the intensive care unit (ICU). There are currently 12 beds in the ICU.

Technology upgrades over the past couple of years have made hospital CEO Joe Howell comfortable the hospital is providing the highest quality of care for patients.

"We feel good about where we are in terms of technology," Howell said. "We are looking at the capacity of the intensive care unit and a possible upgrade of the physical space to meet the current needs of our patients in the hospital."

Upstate Carolina Medical Center is currently working with architects to develop plans for the proposed expansion project. Howell said the hospital has requested figures from contractors so it can develop a budget.

Despite these efforts, Howell said the hospital has not made a final decision on whether it will expand the intensive care unit.

Upstate Carolina Medical Center would need to apply for a certificate of need and request capital funding for the project from its parent company, Health Management Associates (HMA), Howell said. Hospitals must currently apply to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) for a Certificate of Need before building medical facilities and purchasing equipment.

"We have not asked for capital approval for the new facility yet. In a tight economy, we need to plan very carefully to make sure we are spending money wisely," Howell said. "We are still in the design phase and evaluating the costs. One thing we want to make sure is there will be no interruption of services in intensive care unit during any construction project."

Howell said the intensive care unit expansion discussions are part of the hospital's ongoing effort to evaluate facility needs at the hospital.

Upstate Carolina Medical Center opened in 1988. It opened a $3.6 million outpatient center last year to provide more space for surgeries and healthcare services.

In 2002, the hospital relocated the emergency department to the front of the facility.