Banner Health's strategic growth plan focuses intensely on providing convenience and access for our patients, insurance plan members and their families. The residents and families we serve today – and those we will serve tomorrow – need the full range of health care choices close to where they live and work, when they want it, at the moment they need it. The new Banner Scottsdale Medical Center will make it easier for our 50,000 members in Scottsdale and nearby to get the care they need without having to drive across the Valley.
Absolutely. Between 2020 and 2030, the northeast Valley will add 100,000 new residents, according to Census statistics. This 17 percent surge in population represents a new city larger than Goodyear or Yuma – new residents who will demand quality health care close to home. Today, many Banner members who live in and around Scottsdale face drives over an hour for specialized cancer care or surgical procedures. That's a hassle at a time when they need the best possible care close to home and available right now. The same goes for the residents of tomorrow who will join Banner rightfully expecting to have all their health care needs met nearby, efficiently and cost-effectively.
Access to a variety of health care providers and insurance companies creates more options and convenience for consumers and real cost savings for families and employers. The new medical campus will be “one-stop shopping” for residents who need quality medical services, from an emergency room visit to an elective surgical procedure, physical therapy to cancer treatment to medical imaging and prescriptions.
Not at all. Banner has become a national leader in solving our industry's shortage of qualified workers. We have partnered with private, state and community colleges to develop feeder programs to staff Banner openings with well-trained college graduates. Currently, Banner hosts 80% of all nursing student rotations in the state. Last year alone, we hired 1,600 of those new grad RNs at Banner facilities. We've also developed an international nursing program that allows nurses from other countries to become core staff members in less than three years. Retention is also critically important to us. The national average for new grad nursing turnover is 31%. Banner's turnover in 2022 was 12%, making it an industry leader for new nurse retention. In addition, we have invested over $100 million in base pay increases to our front-line patient-facing team members over the past couple of years to keep our workforce stable.
Banner is also fully committed to addressing physician shortages through proactive efforts like expanding our graduate medical education program. In partnership with the University of Arizona Colleges of Medicine, Banner administers the largest residency program in the state. Last year the program trained nearly 1,100 residents and fellows across 91 programs, and we recently announced plans to add hundreds of new seats to address critical needs in Arizona like primary care and rural medicine. We invest in this space because we know it is critical for our state and the health care industry. We know many of these physicians will stay and practice in Arizona upon graduation.
Finding the best and the brightest to work for us in the northeast Valley will not be an issue.
The union representing Scottsdale firefighters has expressed opposition to Banner's project. While we cannot speak for the union, we have reached out in an attempt to address their concerns. We have met with the Scottsdale Fire Department, Scottsdale Police Department and a number of surrounding agencies to share our plans and gather their feedback. They have been receptive, collaborative and welcoming – providing us with great input that has helped to improve the access, design and flow of the new hospital. We want to ensure that this campus is most convenient for them, so they are spending less time at the hospital and more time out in the community serving your emergent needs.
Conservation and efficiency are top of mind for Banner when it comes to development. The Sonoran Desert has many natural and precious resources, and we know what concerns and limitations exist in this environment. Banner Scottsdale Medical Center will be the most energy efficient and water conscious hospital in our system. When developing this campus, we will comply with the International Green Construction Code. Banner Scottsdale will be the first hospital in Arizona that will meet these guidelines, which aim to improve the sustainability and environmental performance of buildings during their design, construction and operation.