David L. Frikse, SRMC CEO, conducts the first tour following the ribbon cutting of CHS’s new hospital with Gov. Tim Kaine, Delegate Rosalyn Dance and Wayne Smith, Chairman of Community Health Systems.

“There will be lots of ribbon-cutting and groundbreaking in Petersburg.  That’s my prediction, and I am sticking to it,” Gov. Tim Kaine said during the ribbon cutting ceremony at Southside Regional Medical Center’s (SRMC) new 300-bed hospital.  Around 200 people were in attendance at last Wednesday’s event.

The $145-million state-of-the-art investment in the region has proven to be an economic engine for the Crater Rd. area, with the addition of two new medical parks, a hotel, and credit union already open.  

Delegate Roslyn R. Dance, who served as mayor of Petersburg during the early discussions for the new facility, praised the hospital authority and Community Health Systems (CHS), owner of SRMC, at the 10 a.m. ceremony for keeping their promises. The mantra “Promises Made, Promises Kept,” was spoken throughout the ceremony.  This was the hospital’s authority to use the money from the sale of the city-owned hospital for the surrounding community.  One way was the establishment of the Cameron Foundation, which gives money to non-profit organizations that provide enhancement and improvement to people’s lives in the Tri-Cities area.  The “promise kept” is the opening of the 420,000-square-foot facility that serves the tri-city area.  Annie M. Mickens, mayor of the  city of Petersburg, said, “The opening of the hospital is a transfusion of the lifeblood that this city was standing in the need of.”  She too stressed special thanks to CHS for “promises made, promises kept.”

Also on the podium were Wayne T. Smith, chairman, president and CEO of Community Health Systems, Inc., who was said to be one of the elite in the changing face of healthcare in the country and one of the most powerful people in healthcare, according to David J. Fikse, SRMC Chief Executive Officer; as well as Boyd R. Wickizer, Jr., MD, Medical Director, SRMC Emergency Room Dept.; William A. Young, Jr., chairman, SRMC Board of Trustees; Rev. Grady W. Powell, SRMC Board of Trustees; and David J. Fikse, SRMC CEO.

SRMC transferred 150 patients Sunday morning from their former location at 801 S. Adams St. to its new replacement hospital at 200 Medical Park Blvd.  It was carefully orchestrated with major emphasis on patient safety and comfort.  The move took approximately four to five hours.

SRMC’s new replacement hospital is located on a 50-acre parcel adjacent to I-95 between the Wagner Rd. and Rives Rd. exits.  It is the fourth location in its expansive history, which dates back to 1884.  The 300-bed hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including expanded space for emergency and trauma services, advanced ICU and NICU units, a fully automated laboratory, spacious outpatient diagnostic and treatment areas, a pneumatic tube system to improved turnaround times for lab results and medication orders, and numerous other “patient-centered care” features.  For more information, visit www.srmconline.com.

lfausz@villagepublishing.com | 751-0421

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