The groundbreaking on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 marked another milestone for Gibson Area Hospital & Health Service (GAHHS). Five months after it was announced that GAHHS would be expanding again, the Hospital Board approved the final building plans for Project 2012, which will greatly expand theOBand Surgical units.
According to Rob Schmitt, CEO of GAHHS, “This ground breaking is a new start of the next Phase of hospital growth. This new space will enhance our abilities to provide great maternity care for our patients, as well as increase our surgical capacity to provide more surgical services at GAHHS.”
Project 2012, a $6 million venture, is scheduled to be complete around the end of September 2013 and will give GAH a new state-of-the-art OB unit, 60% larger than the current OB unit. With the increased size, the new OB unit will have 5 private Labor, Delivery, Recovery and Postpartum (LDRP) rooms with top of the line amenities. These new LDPR rooms will allow expectant mothers to remain in the same room during their entire hospital stay.
In addition to the new OB unit, Project 2012 will also increase the size of the current surgical unit by about 6,000 square feet. This added space will allow for an additional surgery suite and six new private inpatient rooms.
“Another great benefit of this project will be patient privacy. At the completion of this project, GAHHS will have all private rooms for all inpatients. Nobody will have to share a room anymore, which greatly enhances patient privacy and satisfaction, explained Rob.”
Project 2012 will also create new jobs. There will be 50 to 100 construction jobs during the construction phase.
“We are working with our contractor to utilize as many local subcontractors as possible,” said Rob. “After the construction is completed we expect to hire between 15 and 20 new employees.” GAHHS is the largest employer inFordCounty, currently employing over 500 employees.
Picture From Left to Right:
GAH Board of Directors Secretary Ellen Lee, Foundation Chairperson Jeff Austman, Foundation First Vice Chairperson Scott Reynolds, GAHHS CNO/COO Robin Rose, GAHHS CEO Rob Schmitt, President of Medical Staff Katherine Austman, M.D., GAH Board of Directors Treasurer Tracey Epps, GAHHS CFO John Jacobson, GAH Board of Directors Vice President Margo Martin, Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold, Annex Administer Karen Christensen, GAH Board of Directors President Jim Hood, Auxiliary Co-Presidents Bonnie Schutte and Kathy Eagleson, Gibson City Mayor Dan Dickey, and GAHHS CCO Mike Meunier
