Lakeland Watervliet expects $10.9 million expansion by fall

A 10,000-square-foot addition to Lakeland Community Hospital, Watervliet is set to being in the fall of 2011.

The move follows the merger of Community Hospital Watervliet and Lakeland Regional Medical Center, which came about in December.

The project is expected to cost $11.8 million to complete.

The biggest part of the project will be a 6,500 square foot, $4 million expansion of the hospital’s emergency department. The expansion is expected to allow improved workflow efficiency for the hospital staff.

The project will allow the addition of 10 private exam rooms. Right now, the emergency department can only handle eight patients in non-private rooms. Hospital officials say emergency room visits continue to increase.

“The Emergency Department predesign meetings have included input from physicians, managers, nurses, frontline staff, and volunteers – all of the key users,” says Ray Cruse, CEO, Lakeland Community Hospital, Watervliet.

The project also calls for the relocation of Community Medical Center and After Hours Clinic. The practice is currently located in a separate building on the hospital’s campus. Since many patients are uncertain of the type of care they need a new triage position will be created to help direct incoming patients either to the urgent care center or the emergency department.

Changes to the inpatient units at the hospital reflect plans to provide private, comfortable patient rooms that incorporate healing design elements are among other renovation being made as part of the construction project.

Writer: Kathy Jennings
Source: Laura Bailey, Lakeland HealthCare