HARTFORD, Ky. — Ohio County Healthcare held a grand opening for its much-anticipated new surgical unit after many years of planning and 18 months of construction last Friday, Sept. 29, in Hartford.
Following a few words from OCH CEO Shellie Shouse, and others, along with a ribbon cutting, those who attended were welcomed with refreshments, giveaways, and the unique opportunity to see the operating rooms and other parts of the Ohio County Healthcare system typically reserved for staff and surgical patients to view.
The second ribbon cutting of the evening was made by the OCH Surgical Staff at the entrance of the new surgical wing welcoming everyone inside. (Photo by Dustin Bratcher/OC Monitor)
The 27,000-square-foot addition adjoins the hospital and has increased the size of the hospital campus by approximately 40 percent.
The addition is built on a one-acre plot directly behind the hospital with entry off McMurtry Avenue. The new surgical wing contains three large multi-specialty operating rooms, one of which will house the new da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system.
There are also three additional procedure rooms, a pre- and post-operative care unit, and a corridor connecting it to the existing hospital structure. For enhanced convenience, patients will register at the new location which also includes a large waiting area and direct access parking lot.
(Photo by Dustin Bratcher/OC Monitor)
Attendees were able to see inside the operating rooms and see a demonstration of the da Vinci Xi surgical robot. (Photo by Dustin Bratcher/OC Monitor)
“The addition of robotic surgical treatment will greatly increase the complexity of surgeries performed at OCH and lessen recovery time for our patients, ” Dr. Elizabeth Ottman, OCH’s Medical Director of Surgical Services, said. “This will allow more patients to remain closer to home for surgical care. The da Vinci system delivers 3D high-definition views, giving the surgeon a crystal-clear view of the surgical area that is magnified 10 times to what the human eye can see.
“This truly is where surgical innovation meets healthcare excellence.”
The surgical win was designed by ESa Architectural Group of Nashville, Tennessee. Phase one of the multi-phased construction project was overseen by Wehr Construction of Louisville, Kentucky.
The financing to build the unit was secured in partnership with the Ohio County Fiscal Court through the Rural Development Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Funding for phase one of the project was over $20 million which was utilized for the construction of the new surgical wing, renovations to the current hospital space, and the purchase of new equipment and technology to support the surgical expansion.
During the next year, OCH will invest another $5 million in the second phase of the building surgical excellence to renovate space where the former surgical and outpatient areas were located. Additionally, over the past several years, OCH has purchased over $1 million in real estate surrounding the hospital campus for space to build the surgical unit, increase parking for patients and staff, and add additional office space.
“OCH’s strategic initiative to build surgical excellence extends beyond this building project,” Shellie Shouse, OCH CEO, said. “We have and will continue to invest a great many resources into increasing the number of surgical services available to our patients through the recruitment of surgeons, hiring additional staff, investing in training programs, and purchasing state-of-the-art equipment.
“This commitment is part of the outstanding care we provide to the communities we serve.”
Ohio County Healthcare currently has 22 local and regional surgeons credentialed to perform surgeries in the following specialties: ear, nose, and throat (ENT), gastroenterology, general surgery, gynecology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, pain management, podiatry, and urology.