Work will begin in February on the third and final renovation phase at D.W. McMillan Hospital.
And as work begins, hospital administration is asking patients to be, well, patient.
“We’ve got lots of great work ongoing here at the hospital,” said Jason Daniel, DWM’s communications officer. “We’re very excited to announce that the last phase of our renovation project will start on Feb. 2.
“The second entrance bay will be closed for demolition, and all out-patients should enter through the main hospital entrance,” Daniel said. “The ER entrance will remain open for all emergency patients.”
Hospital personnel will be working diligently to ensure patients and their families can navigate through the hospital during the ongoing renovations, Daniel said. Hospital administration has requested the public’s patience as the hospital improvements continue over the next several months.
The $11 million investment includes a new 7,500 square foot emergency department, two integrated operating room suites and renovations to the existing surgical suite. The new emergency department includes the following: five exam rooms, a two-bed trauma room, a cardiac trauma room and a decontamination room. The ongoing expansion will also centralize registration and new waiting areas for most outpatient and emergency services. It will include the addition of a new outpatient infusion center, renovation of radiology waiting and administrative areas, and renovation of the primary corridors located on the north end of the hospital.
Daniel said the new infusion center will open in February, as well.
“Another big change patients will notice is that all patients should be able to park in front of the hospital and ER patients in the ER room lot,” he said.
The state inspector was on site Tuesday to do a final walk-through of the project’s second phase.
“For the next three or four months, it’s going to be hectic here at the hospital,” he said. “We plan to have runners to help patients navigate where they need to go, as well as other staff members.
“We wanted to let everyone know that it will be kind of painful for a while, but our patients are our No. 1 priority, and it’s our goal to make this process as seamless as possible,” he said.