New Pinckneyville Hospital opens Monday
Pinckneyville Community Hospital will open the doors to patients at the new facility on Monday, September 28, 2015. Departments have been transitioning to the new hospital over the last few weeks.
"This is the day that we have all been waiting for," says Randall W. Dauby, Administrator/CEO. "As I've mentioned before, moving a hospital operation is not like moving an average business that can just shut down operations, move and restart operations in a day or so," stated Dauby, "as a healthcare entity, we strive to deliver excellent care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With that in mind, Tom Hudgins has been coordinating with each of the departments to ensure that the transition into the new facility goes as smoothly as possible for our patients."
Beginning at 7 a.m. on Sept. 28, all patients requiring laboratory, imaging or emergency services should report to the new facility at 5383 State Route 154. The Emergency Department at 101 N. Walnut will remain open until approximately 12 noon for any potential walk-in patients during the transition.
When coming to the new Hospital, all outpatient testing patients, Family Medical Center patients, and visitors should come onto the campus off of State Route 154, and enter through the main entrance at the front of the Hospital. Walk-in emergency patients should enter the Emergency Department doors located just to the right of the Main Entrance doors at the front of the Hospital. Ambulances will enter via an ambulance entrance on the east side of the facility.
The Family Medical Center will be closed on Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday, Sept. 26, to dismantle, move and set-up the clinic at the new facility. The Family Medical Center will reopen Monday, Sept. 28, at 8:30 a.m. within the new Hospital.
Pinckneyville Ambulance Service will begin transporting inpatients on the medical floor around 10 a.m., after patients have had breakfast, morning medications, and physicians have completed morning rounds. "Our hope is to have patients settled into their new rooms in time for lunch," stated Dauby.
To help patients find their way in the new facility, members of the newly formed Pinckneyville Community Hospital Auxiliary will be on hand greeting patients and visitors at the front entrance.
An Air-Evac Lifeteam crew will be conducting a test land on the new helipad east of the hospital at 12:30 p.m. Dauby invites the community to watch the landing, and "barring any emergencies, will be allowed to tour the helicopter."
The community is also invited to join employees as we release balloons commemorating the opening of the facility at 1:30 p.m. However, tours will not be conducted.
"We appreciate the support and patience of our patients, community and staff we as we open our new Hospital," noted Dauby. "I can wholeheartedly say that we are ready to move forward and continue to lead the way to a healthier tomorrow in Pinckneyville and the surrounding communities."