STARTING LAST FALL,
Beaufort Memorial
began a $14.5 million project to renovate
and expand the hospital’s Emergency
Department (ER) and upgrade the
emergency power infrastructure sys-
tems currently in place. Te project was
jump-started with a substantial gift from
Dr. Bruce Pratt to honor his parents. In
addition, hospital employees raised $1
million for the Pratt Emergency Center
expansion, and the BMH Foundation has
been working with numerous friends to
obtain additional philanthropic support
for this signifcant efort.
Over the past few months, construc-
tion work has been going on around the
current ER. However, once that work is
completed, the ER will need to be tem-
porarily located on the second foor. Tis
will let construction workers get into the
existing area to clear it out and
rebuild it.
“We expect the relocation
of the ER to occur sometime
in the spring,” says Plant
Services Director Marion
Moody. “And we’re hopeful
that we will have the entire
project completed late this
year.”
Te current ER is
about 9,500 square feet,
with two triage rooms
and 18 treatment beds.
Tis project will ex-
pand the department
to more than 20,500
square feet. At the
end of the construc-
tion project, the
Pratt Emergency
Center will have
26 private treat-
ment rooms,
including two
trauma rooms.
It will also
Major
renovation and
expansion of ER: An update
have two consultation rooms, a decon-
tamination room and fve locations to
review test results.
Te larger footprint also allows space
for other improvements, including the ex-
pansion of the basement level of the Food
& Nutrition (Dietary) Department work
area and installation of a much larger
cooler and freezer. Space for future ICU
expansion will be “shelled in” on the third
foor. Tis will allow the unit to expand
from 8 to 12 or 13 beds.
Major infrastructure upgrades include
increasing the capacity of the cooling
system to include a new chiller and a
much larger cooling tower. According to
Marion Moody, director of plant services,
three new Caterpillar 800 kilowatt genera-
tor sets will be installed in a new power-
house, along with the latest in electrical
switchgear technology.
Te project has been divided into two
phases. Te frst phase, which began last
fall, has mostly involved new construc-
tion around the ER, followed by Dietary
and Plant improvements at the back of the
hospital.
“It has been inconvenient for awhile
around here,” says Moody. “Our goal is to
cause as little disruption to patient ser-
vices as possible.”
Areas around the hospital are being
fenced of throughout the duration of
the project. Fencing will go up and down
throughout the project as it proceeds. Te
frst phase should be completed around
April or May.
According to Moody, the second phase,
which will require the relocation of the
ER, will be the most difcult time for the
public.
Te project will result in an improved
physical plant with a solid infrastructure
able to handle just about any problem
and a modern, efcient Emergency Center
equipped to meet the needs of a growing
community.
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