Construction for the new Family Center Begins Today

10/5/2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tammy G. Love

Director of Marketing & Medical Staff Development

Phone: (336) 651-8116

Construction is now underway at Wilkes Regional Medical Center for the new Family Center addition. This second story addition over the main entrance to the hospital will enlarge and expand the labor and delivery area, double the size of the C-section room and provide private on-call rooms for physicians. The further renovation of the post-partum wing will bring the facility up to today’s standards. The renovation is much more than just remodeling our Labor and Delivery Department. This project represents a major stride in the direction of bringing un-compromised care to families in Wilkes and the surrounding area, who anticipate one of life’s most important events – the birth of their child.

The main entrance to the hospital has been relocated to the west side of the building. Visitors will continue to utilize the upper level parking area that is now designated for visitors and employees. Additional handicap parking spaces have been designated to accommodate our visitors with special needs. Directional signs are posted at the construction site to direct visitors to the new temporary entrance.

Patients using services such as lab, diagnostic imaging, respiratory, out-patient surgery, or labor/delivery admissions will use the lower level (Emergency Room) parking lot. During the construction project, all patients will also be discharged through this lower level parking area. There is a covered canopy at the lower level parking area which will allow us to better meet the needs of our patients during the discharge process.

We anticipate that the construction project will take approximately 12 months, with a tentative completion date expected around mid-November of 2004.