Expansion of surgical center important for Ohio County, officials say

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Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022

Expansion of surgical center important for Ohio County, officials say

BY JAMES MAYSE

MESSENGER-INQUIRER

Ohio County Healthcare’s renovation and creation of a new surgical wing is important for the county, Judge-Executive David Johnston said, both in terms of serving the public and as an employer.

Earlier this year, the hospital broke ground on a 27,000square-foot addition that will connect with the existing hospital, which will include a new surgical wing.

The new surgical department will include three operating rooms, three procedure rooms, a pre-and post-operative care unit and a walkway connecting it to the existing hospital.

It also includes a large waiting room and a direct access parking area.

The surgical wing was designed by ESa Architectural Group in Nashville. Wehr Construction in Louisville will manage the construction.

The new surgical wing will make robotic procedures available in Ohio County, Pieper said.

“It’s about a $30 million project,” Johnston said.

Part of the money made available through the Rural Development Office of the U.S. Department of Agriculture will also be used to reduce the hospital’s debt.

In a prepared statement at the time of the groundbreaking, former Ohio County Healthcare CEO Blaine Pieper said: “Replacement of our current surgical department has been a focus of OCH’s strategic planning for almost a decade. The funding partnership with the USDA began in earnest in 2019. “While delayed in part due to the COVID pandemic, we are very excited to finally enter the construction phase,” Pieper said. “Equally important as the building project itself has been our focus on the recruitment and retention of key surgical specialties. This recruitment has enhanced and grown our surgical services and has driven the need for expanded and additional facilities.”

Like many other projects undertaken this year, inflation and the cost of construction materials has had an impact. Construction materials have also increased due to supply chain issues.

Inflation and construction costs “increased (the project) $5 million,” Johnston said.

Ohio County Healthcare is a major county employer, and the expansion will greatly increase the hospital’s personnel, Johnston said.

Ohio County Healthcare has 24 local and regional surgeons specializing in bariatrics, ear, nose & throat, gastroenterology, general surgery, gynecology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, pain management, podiatry and urology.

“With the expansion of our surgical wing, that will

nearly double out staff” at the hospital, Johnston said. “It’s hard to measure it, but they are probably way up there” in terms of paying occupational taxes, Johnston said. Johnson said previously that a goal is to have specialty care so people don’t have to travel out of the community. “We will be glad when it’s done,” Johnston said. “With the The work is expected to take 12 to 18 months. expansion of our surgical wing, that will nearly double out staff.” — David Johnston, Ohio County

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