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Big Progress Year for
Bluffton Regional Medical

By JIM BARBIERI
A new big investment in health care facilities here was announced last mont by Bluffton Regional Medical Center, with more to come.
Already being launched into construction steps was a $1.95 million renovation project that includes creation of a new intensive care unit (ICU).
It features as well the relocation of skilled nursing and inpatient physical therapy to the first floor of the medical center.
The big 2003-2004 project is a large stride toward still more major expansions and physical upgrade of Bluffton Regional m-- all within the large central Bluffton facility as revealed also in the May announcements
The state-of-the-art seven-bed new ICU was cited as being designed with individual rooms featuring glass doors to maximize both patient privacy and the nursing staff’s visibility of every patient, it was explained.
This design, in conjunction with new telemetry equipment and other features, will enable staff to provide a new level of care in a private setting, the announcement amplified.
“Renovation of the ICU will afford the local community with state-of-the-art intensive care equipment and monitoring, plus increase the space available for patients in need of close observation and care,’’ stated Dr. Donald Dian, chairman of Bluffton Regional’s board of directors.
Elaborated was that the new ICU will be located on the third floor of the medical center -- in the area that has been occupied by Bluffton Regional’s skilled nursing unit and physical therapy department.
These service areas were noted as aimed to be relocated to the the first floor, creating a more self-contained, inviting atmosphere for residents -- a setting that even includes an enclosed patio.
The new area also will be more readily accessible to visitors, it was explained.
The new ICU is scheduled to open a little over a year from now in the late spring of 2004.
Disclosed further was that design teams comprised of medical staff members and Bluffton Regional associates were currently developing plans with longtime medical center architect Jim Wallis, who was also involved in the design of the River Terrace Retirement Community, which opened last month.
As described on the timetable, construction surrounding the new skilled nursing and physical therapy areas is slated for late summer, with anticipated relocation to the first floor taking place by year’s end.
The current preliminary steps were indicated to be in preparation for skilled nursing and physical therapy to take over the location of the former psychiatric unit site.
Once the relocation tasks are carried out -- as expected by year end -- construction then will start on the new third floor ICU with the timetable target of completion in late spring of 2004.
“This renovation project is the latest in a series of capital investments in the future of Bluffton Regional Medical Center,” stated CEO Tom Clark.
“Coupled with the new MRI, digital mammography and numerous other facility upgrades, it represents our continued commitment to the health and well-being of the communities we serve,’’ Clark affirmed.
Disclosed additionally was that the plan being announced in May is the first phase of a multi-phase renovation project involving the expansion of the OB (obstetrics) Hospital, expansion of the medical surgical unit to all semi-private or private rooms, and an eight-bed pediatric unit.
Clark indicated that more will be said on these with the plans development.
He amplified that hospital-medical officials are pleased by the usage numbers, medical value and success of the new $2 million digital mammography and the increased volume and value from the $500,000 new fixed-station MRI -- the results to date from those two leading 2002 capital investments.