Officials at Optim Medical Center celebrated two upcoming construction projects with a ground-breaking ceremony on Thursday, July 13, 2023 at the Reidsville Hospital site beginning at 10:00 a.m. One project includes an expanded and renovated lobby behind a new hospital main entrance. The new lobby is designed to create a more spacious and inviting environment to better serve patients, visitors and staff. The expanded lobby will include 7,032 square feet of space which is over 2.5 times larger than the current space, and it will include unique zones and elements tailored for comfort, convenience, and communication. The anticipated completion date for the lobby is July 2024.
The second project involves the construction of a new patient wing featuring nine modern in-patient rooms to replace older rooms. The older rooms will be repurposed for other uses. The new private rooms are designed to include medical and personal amenities including ADA compliant bathrooms. The new wing will house an expanded nurse station to help promote effective communication and help provide the most efficient delivery of care for patients. The new patient wing will add 5,838 square feet to the hospital, and the projected completion date is June 2024.
Hunter McCall, Facilities Director for the Optim Healthcare System is enthusiastic about the projects. “The new lobby will provide so many benefits,” he said. “When a patient signs in he/she will be directed to surgery or outpatient; there will be educational kiosks inside to provide information on procedures or whatever service the patient requires. It’s just going to be a more relaxed atmosphere; surgery patients will remain in the area; they won’t be going all over the hospital for different services. It’s just more efficient.”
“The new wing will be on the East side of the hospital. Each room is approximate 340 square feet with ADA compliances like roll in showers. At first glance it appears like the design is strictly for surgery patients, but in reality the design is to benefit any patient that is admitted. Obviously we are a surgical facility, but we provide critical access for the community, and we want it to work equally well for them. The bottom line is these additions are designed to provide a first class medical experience for every patient from the time they are admitted until they are discharged.”
Design drawings to help visitors visualize and understand the location and design of the projects were a hit with visitors. Reidsville Mayor Curtis Colwell was impressed. “It’s a great thing, and I love the fact the hospital is expanding. Our community needs the best medical services possible, and I think Optim Medical is on the right track. Someone said there might be more expansion coming down the road, and I’d be on board for that too.”
Second District Commissioner Bobby Kennedy recalled that he spent hours on the road to Atlanta about two decades ago trying to help keep the old Tattnall Hospital open. “It’s hard to explain just how good it feels to see this success and expansion,” he said. “This means there is a big demand for its services, and that means it is going to be here, and that is what’s important. It was an interesting morning on Thursday and a great event.”
Tattnall County Commission Chairman Jackie Trim was just as elated. “This is so good,” he said. “Most rural hospitals are struggling to keep their doors open, and this place is kicking up dust building and expanding. This hospital is a blessing to Tattnall and surrounding counties; patients can come here and get their surgery done without fighting the traffic of Augusta, Savannah, or Atlanta and that is a big plus in my book. In a sense it’s the best of both worlds. You can get the best surgeons in the world and you don’t have to risk life and limb in traffic to get here.
Garbutt Construction Company, a trusted name in the construction has been tapped by Optim Medical Center-Tattnall to serve as the general contractor. GMC, a well-respected architectural firm specializing in healthcare facility design will design and oversee construction. The mission of both firms will be to develop an aesthetically pleasing and functional space to more efficiently serve the needs of patients and visitors to the hospital.
The event was attended to representatives from Optim Medical Center-Tattnall and Optim Health System along with community leaders and guests. Locals who attended seemed to be looking forward to the summer of 2024 when the projects are scheduled for completion and the good things might happen after that.
