They’re on the move at Bradford Regional Medical Center.
In addition to getting ready for Friday’s grand opening of the
hospital’s addition, a couple departments have started moving in
and even started seeing patients.
“The moving process will take five to six weeks,” said Glen
Washington, senior vice president of operations. “Thirteen
different departments will move.”
The $14.5 million project – funded through bonds, philanthropy
and state grants – was announced by Gov. Ed Rendell in February
2005.
The departments recently received the go-ahead to start moving
into the addition after officials received the certificate of
occupancy from the Department of Health last week.
SMART/Rehab Services – including physical therapy, occupational
therapy and speech therapy – Sleep Lab and Upbeat/Cardiac
Rehabilitation moved last weekend and are open for business.
“It’s an exciting phase for us,” Washington said as furniture
continues to arrive to be put in the new offices.
Workers continued this week to tweak areas of SMART, which is on
campus after moving from 2 N. Center St.
Washington said departments such as SMART and the Sleep Lab were
leased off site so it was a priority to get the department
moved.
SMART’s new location will benefit both patients and staff,
manager Stacia Roggenbaum said.
“We are excited to see how much more connected to what’s
happening at BRMC we will be by being on campus,” she said, adding
it will also help if they refer a patient to another department,
such as Upbeat. They can take the patient there and ease his or her
anxiety.
“We are looking forward to see how it will all play out.”
The last “department” to move will be the HeartStrings Gift
Shop, which is still waiting on cabinetry to be built.
Washington said one thing patients will recognize is more
parking. Parking in front of the old main entrance was limited to
police and ambulance vehicles.
Now, the parking will be more handicap-accessible. One hundred
fifteen parking spaces will be added.
“Parking access is very important for patients,” Washington
said, adding there’s more spaces around the new main entrance.
Washington said the staff at the hospital, some of whom have
been involved in designing the space they will work in, have given
positive feedback.
“There’s a lot of excitement.”
While some departments in the addition are open for business,
they won’t be seeing patients on Friday.
Washington added that the grand opening and tours were planned
to take place before all of the departments were up and running so
visitors could see all of the areas. Some of the areas will be
restricted to the public once they are in use.
The Hamsher House will be demolished in the mid-to-late
spring.
Two departments in the Hamsher House – the Diabetes Center and
Healthy Beginnings – will relocate to West Washington Street next
to Parkview.
Some of the notable changes people will see are the nursing
stations centrally located, which will enable the staff to watch
over the patients, and the consolidation of outpatient testing,
inpatient admissions and outpatient registration.
The new area will include four large areas that will allow more
privacy and more space for family members.
Currently there’s “very little opportunity for privacy,”
Washington said. “We fixed all of that.”
“We designed for the long-term. We designed for the future.”
Plant Services Director Dan Rees said that the first round of
moves has gone well, complimenting his staff on working hard,
including placing more than 75,000 feet of cable for computers and
telephones.
He added that some of the things – such as sinks and faucets –
that are being removed from old areas, will be stored and used in
the future if needed.
“Stretch everything where we can,” he said.
Once all the departments are moved, work will begin on Phase II,
which includes revamping the emergency and surgical departments.
This is projected to begin in February or March, Washington
said.
Patients should still be able to reach the relocating
departments by phone and should try calling the office during
normal business hours. If they are unable to leave a message, they
can call the hospital switchboard.
None of the phone numbers will change.
