Gwinnett wants to expand by 43%

Bustling Gwinnett Medical Center of Lawrenceville, GA has asked the state for permission to expand its bed capacity by 129 beds, or 43 percent over its currently licensed 300 beds. The $92-million proposal includes a five-story patient tower, and would take about three years to build. Officials say the emergency room is among the state's most hectic. Healthcare research firm Solucient has named Gwinnett the busiest medical center for its size in the country, a distinction it apparently hopes to leave behind by expanding its bed count and footage.

For background on Gwinnett's proposal:
- take a look at this story in the Gwinnett Daily Post