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DRMC Construction
from Better Health magazine, Fall, 2000
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The Hard Hats Come Out of Storage as
Danville Regional Medical Center Embarks on a
Two-Year Construction ProjectProposed and In-Progress Construction Details
In April of 1996, Danville Regional Medical Center cut the ribbon on a multi-million dollar addition designed to bring the hospital's services into the twenty-first century. In December, construction is beginning on a three-story addition to that building, in an effort to complete the organization's goal of making patients' and visitors' experiences more comfortable - and more convenient.
"This is an exciting, major project for us, and that means that it's a very exciting project for the community, too" said Brad Sexauer, Vice President of Planning and Marketing for Danville Regional Health System. "Over the course of the next two years, we will be adding three additional stories to the hospital's A building, which when completed, will enable us to move all acute medical/surgical beds into the same part of the campus. After the project is finished, access to patient care areas will be much more convenient."
Phase I: Preparing for Growth
Seeds for this project were sown in 1994, when the original plans were laid for A building's construction. "But at that time, the plan was to eventually add just two more floors to the building," said Sexauer. "In the subsequent years, planning has indicated a need to add three - and not just two - floors."
In order to accommodate the extra weight of the additional floor, the existing building's structure will be enhanced during the first phase of construction. During this phase, few changes will be noticeable outside of the building. But inside, nursing units will need to be temporarily relocated as structural supports are buttressed. "We'll be making every effort to make the changes as minimally disruptive as possible," said Sexauer.
Phase II: A New Women's and Children's Center
Once the existing structure has been reinforced, construction will begin on the new fourth floor, a replacement for the existing 4B unit. The vacated 4B unit and the adjacent labor and delivery space will become the new Women's and Children's Center. "Without a doubt, this is one of the most exciting components of the project," said Sexauer. "We will completely renovate the current labor and delivery unit with a spacious, comfortable birthing center."
The birthing center will consist of seven LDR rooms, where women will labor, deliver, and recover in the same room. Adjacent to the LDR rooms will be a postpartum unit with 15 private rooms. A new nursery and antepartum area will be in the new space next to the LDR rooms.
On the other end of the floor will be the new, 12-bed pediatric unit, designed to be a special place where children can feel comfortable while hospitalized. "This represents a significant upgrading of our women's and children's services," said Sexauer. "It takes pediatrics out of the oldest part of our hospital and makes families more comfortable. It's a much-needed addition."
Phase III: The 5th and 6th Floors
While the fourth floor is being completely finished, floors 5 and 6 will be shelled but left unfinished until after 2002. "The plan is to get the women's and children's project completed, then we will complete the upper two floors," said Sexauer. These floors will eventually house replacement units for medical/surgical units presently located on the third and fourth floors of the J building.
"The ultimate goal is to have all of the Medical Center's medical and surgical services in Building A and B so that it will be a more positive experience for patients and their visitors," said Sexauer. "There will be a lot less walking for everyone. And, of course, it means that all our major services will be in modern, state-of-the-art facilities."
Building a Better Medical Center
These phases of construction are currently scheduled for completion in mid 2002. Beers Construction, the company that built the A building, is also handling these additions. And because construction is being funded out of the accumulated resources of Danville Regional Health System, no financing costs will be incurred. "The financial health of the organization makes this possible," said Sexauer. "There will be no additional cost to our patients to bring these improvements to the community."
Though inconveniences can certainly be expected over the next two years, the final result will be well worth the trouble. "We appreciate the community's flexibility, and we'll do all that we can to make the changes easy. I think everyone will agree that the short-term inconveniences are minor when compared to the long-term gain."
Proposed and in-progress construction links to
different buildings and events may be found here.
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