HAMILTON — Community Memorial Hospital has entered the second phase of its $31.5 million project to expand and renovate patient care spaces. The hospital had experienced delays created by increases in construction costs until the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently guaranteed the loan necessary to complete construction. “On behalf of all of us at […]
HAMILTON — Community Memorial Hospital has entered the second phase of its $31.5 million project to expand and renovate patient care spaces. The hospital had experienced delays created by increases in construction costs until the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently guaranteed the loan necessary to complete construction. “On behalf of all of us at Community Memorial, I would like to extend our most sincere appreciation to Sen. [Charles] Schumer for leading our congressional delegation in advocating to make this nearly $20 million USDA loan guarantee possible,” Community Memorial President/CEO Jeff Coakley said in a news release. “We are incredibly excited to restart our facility renewal project, especially after increased labor and supply costs during the pandemic significantly delayed the financial approvals for phase II. Thanks to Sen. Schumer and our federal representatives, Community Memorial can now make good on our promise to expand and revitalize our facility and equipment, safeguarding patient care and over 400 jobs for many years to come.” The project is the largest renovation of the facility in more than 70 years. The first phase, completed in December 2021, updated the inpatient wing and emergency department. This second phase focuses on the center of the hospital with renovations to the radiology department, laboratory, rehabilitation center, and main entrance with updated spaces and equipment. The new radiology department will be centralized inside the hospital, mobilizing all modalities to meet the needs of patients and allow staff to respond to urgent patient needs. The new equipment will include a CT scanner, MRI machine, and digital mammography. The laboratory department will gain expanded waiting space for patients with updated draw rooms to provide an improved patient experience. There will also be ADA-compliant draw spaces. Community Memorial will also expand the Center for Rehabilitation to offer a new and modern location for patient care. The space includes physical, occupational, and speech therapies. The new main entrance for patients, families, and visitors will feature a larger waiting space with modern and comfortable amenities and a cohesive exterior to the new emergency department entrance. There will also be enhanced patient safeguards. “This nearly $20 million federal investment is a major shot in the arm for Madison County and Community Memorial Hospital,” Schumer said. “This will help kickstart the next phase of the hospital’s transformation, expanding to help get our rural communities the health care they need with new, top-of-the-line equipment and facilities. With this federal support, Community Memorial will continue to build on their recent expansion of services and add new state-of-the-art equipment, positioning the hospital to meet the changing needs of rural patients.” Community Memorial and construction-management group, The Hayner Hoyt Corp., anticipate completion of the project at the end of 2025. While construction is in progress, the hospital will work to ensure patient care is not reduced or impacted.