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New emergency room opens at Harrisburg Medical Center

HARRISBURG - Harrisburg Medical Center's major expansion, a multi-phase $9 million project, remains on track with the opening of the new emergency room, HMC CEO Rodney Smith says.

"We opened the ER at 3 a.m. Monday. That was the first phase of multiple phases, with the next phase being the operating rooms," Smith said. "The operating rooms will be done on the 10th of next month, and we'll submit the project to the state so they can give us permission to use it."

Smith said he and members of the hospital board are pleased with the speed of the expansion project.

"This is coming together very quickly," he said.

The expansion in the ER doubled its capacity, he said. Now, the ER is a 10-bed unit.

Part of the old ER has been converted into the new operating room area, plus the footprint of the OR expanded the north side of the HMC building.

Standing outside the ER entrance, Smith pointed toward the new hangar for AirEvac Lifeteam, where the company's air ambulance helicopter could be seen on the landing pad. AirEvac leases the space from the hospital and built the new hangar complete with living quarters for its team members.

"Having the helicopter here makes a huge difference in terms of minutes saved in an emergency situation," Smith said.

A new backup generator also was located immediately northeast of the expanded HMC building. The generator is large enough to accommodate the current needs of the hospital in terms of backup power, plus those of a future MRI department and additional future construction, he said.

The west side of the hospital, where the main entrance was previously, is undergoing a demolition phase so that the main entrance can be renovated. Smith said that phase will be finished in March or April, depending on construction variables.

Smith said while the cost of the project is a large some of money, the results will mean a higher level of healthcare for Saline County residents.

"I know that $9 million is a lot of money, but we feel like the hospital is getting a lot for that amount," he said.

Future anticipated projects include an onsite laundry center, a new cafeteria and a new kitchen, Smith said.

Harrisburg Medical Center nurse Denise Hays displays equipment in one of the emergency room's new trauma units Thursday afternoon. The new ER opened Monday. Travis DeNeal/Harrisburg Register
Workers in the new operating room area of Harrisburg Medical Center are close to finishing the expansion. The new operating room should be open sometime in mid-October, according to HMC CEO Rodney Smith. Travis DeNeal/Harrisburg Register