January 18, 2006 | More News

Officials from Shenandoah Memorial Hospital and Valley Health didn’t mind getting a little mud on their shoes last month during a groundbreaking ceremony for the hospital’s new 30,000-square-foot Ambulatory Surgical Unit. “This is a very exciting time for us, and we’ve been planning for this for years,” exclaims SMH President Floyd Heater. “This is just the first phase of a 20-year master plan that will enhance the ability of the hospital’s physicians, nurses, and employees to provide the best possible care to our patients.” 

SMH’s Ambulatory Surgical Unit first opened in 1987, and as Mr. Heater notes, healthcare has changed dramatically over the ensuing years. “Just 20 years ago, patients were more likely to spend several days in the hospital for procedures that today are performed on an outpatient basis,” he notes, adding that SMH has seen an 80 percent increase in its outpatient surgery caseload in the past ten years. 

Last month’s ceremony marked the first major groundbreaking since the hospital was built more than 50 years ago. Construction of the new facility is expected to last approximately 15 months at a cost of $9.1 million. Funding is coming from three different areas, with Valley Health Affiliated Funds putting up $4 million. SMH will assume a portion of the debt to cover $3.6 million. The balance of the funds is coming from the SMH Foundation, which has committed to raising a minimum of $1.5 million.  According to SMH Foundation Chairman Rick Glading, the Foundation has already raised $1.4 million and hopes to exceed its goal. “Every dollar we raise over our goal eases the debt that the hospital will have to take on to complete the new unit,” he observes. 

Once completed, the new facility will allow the hospital to better meet the growing scheduling demands for surgical procedures. It will also provide larger areas for patient preparation and recovery, as well as afford more patient and family privacy. Additional parking along with a covered drop off/pick up area are also added benefits.