SYLACAUGA — Four days and counting until the newest state-of-the-art hospital holds its long anticipated open house.The original Sylacauga Hospital opened its doors 62 years ago on April 1, 1945. It has the distinction of being the only non-military hospital built in the United States during World War II.
Coosa Valley Medical Center will host an open house Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. for its new 120,000-square-foot hospital with everything from the pillows to imaging equipment being brand spanking new.
Vanessa Green, vice president of CVMC, said hospital officials are hoping for a huge turnout from the community to see the long-awaited dream become a reality for health care in the area.
“This is another milestone for health care in our community that started 62 years ago with Sylacauga Hospital. We want everyone to come out and see our new hospital and enjoy refreshments,” she said.
In a sneak preview of the new hospital Monday afternoon, workers were feverishly putting in ceiling tiles, painting, installing equipment and more in preparation for the open house.
“We’re in the final stages. When one trade finishes, another trade comes in. They’re working around each other. We’re on schedule to finish up,” said Charles Woosley, vice president of the medical center who is overseeing the construction.
From the inside, the newest replacement hospital in the state is spacious, with earth-tone colors throughout.
The $28 million facility is one of the most ambitious projects in the medical center’s history.
Ground was broken Sept. 26, 2005, for the hospital when members of Sylacauga Healthcare Authority and staff of the medical center joined hundreds from the community to celebrate the future of health care in the area.
Green said everything in the hospital is top of the line and state of the art.
The patient rooms are overwhelming in size compared to the old facility, with private bathrooms, 20-inch televisions, comfortable furniture and more.
The new hospital will connect with the ambulatory care center and the old facility.
The ground floor is where food service, an imaging center and the chapel are located.
Food service includes a cafeteria, food court, dining area that seats 130, outside dining and a community room for meetings that seats another 35.
The new cafeteria and food service center is open to the public.
The imaging center features a holding area for in-hospital and outpatient treatment. New nuclear medicine imaging equipment that allows for cardiac imaging, bone scans and more was installed Monday, said Andy Gill, director of Imaging Services.
Digital radiography equipment that involves no film has also been installed. The digital imaging from the equipment is sent to a computer in the room and read immediately.
The first floor features an intensive care unit and women’s center.
The intensive care unit is being expanded from eight to 10 rooms. One of those rooms is a suite, which is an isolation room that is ventilated to the outside, Woosley said.
He said family members will be encouraged to stay with patients in these rooms.
There is also a large waiting area with amenities for ICU. Waiting areas throughout the hospital will have 37-inch televisions, artwork and more.
The women’s center has four labor-deliver suites and seven post-deliver rooms.
The rooms will have sleeper chairs and recliners for family.
“There is plenty of room to take care of patients and guests,” Woosley said.
The second floor is the medical floor. There are 37 private rooms for patients on this floor, with two nursing stations.
The third floor is pediatrics and surgery. There are 24 private rooms here and a playroom named in memory of Drew Gray, Green said.
The hospital will have a total of 86 beds for patients, with space for an additional 17 beds for future growth.
One important aspect of the first floor is a hallway that leads directly from surgery to intensive care. A patient will have surgery and be moved straight into intensive care without going through many areas of the hospital, as is the case now. The critical areas on the first floor immediately join the surgical suites.
Green said the new hospital is here today because of the support of the community.
“It took the community to build it, and it will take the community to make it a success,” she said.
Woosley said the key future dates for the hospital are state inspection May 22, 23 and 24.
“We anticipate the state turning the hospital over to us for occupancy May 25. We plan to move our imaging department, food service and materials management first. Once these are in place, patients will follow. This could take place June 1, preferably over the weekend when there are less patients. The patients could be relocated to their new rooms between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.,” he said.
Green said Amy Price, vice president of patient care, is coordinating the moving teams to make the move as safe and as convenient as possible.
“There has been a great deal of planning going into this move,” she said.
The dedication of the hospital will take place as part of the open house starting at 2 p.m. at the entrance to the new facility. Shortly after that, the public can move throughout the hospital to get a first-hand look at the long-awaited health care facility.
“They can join us for refreshments, good fellowship and good food and see our great new addition, including new technology to bring health care to the top in our community,” Green said.
Also included in this project are 150 new parking spaces beside the hospital for physicians and guests. Guest parking is next to the building, Woosley said.
The CVMC sign will go up on the new building Thursday as preparations continue for the open house.
The hospital employs about 580 people, with more than 40 active medical staff members and 60 volunteer auxiliary members.
