Homer Alaska - News

Five years since South Peninsula Hospital's two-phase expansion and renovation project began, it is nearly complete. The project, costing approximately $15 million, has added an estimated 26,400 square feet to the health care facility and remodeled approximately 14,000 square feet of existing space.

A grand opening is being scheduled for 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 28.

Lower than anticipated contractor bids meant the project encompassed more than was planned, according to Derotha Ferraro, the hospital's marketing director.

"That allowed us to build the minimum project and the additional features we had hoped for," said Ferraro. "Once we were in the project, we were able to realize enough savings that allowed us to relocate the birthing center, and then we were able to set aside almost enough for the MRI addition."

Enclosure of the hospital's MRI is the only project-related activity still to be completed.

"We are hoping for immediate (completion) and will find out Aug. 3 at the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly meeting when the assembly votes on how to proceed," Ferraro said.

The project leaves little resembling the structure's former self, with its upgraded patient rooms, each with a view of Kachemak Bay, a floor plan that increases patient privacy and employee efficiency, easy access between departments and services that minimize wait times.

"It's always been a good hospital, a hospital that cares about the patients and is a real treasure in this town, but these changes have made it better," said Walt Partridge, treasurer of the hospital's board of directors. "It's made it more efficient for the people that work at the hospital, modernized it and made it more private for patients."

Photos by Chris Arend Marian Hemingway, registered nurse and coordinator for South Peninsula Hospital's Family Birthing Center, ensures patients' comfort in the new birthing center's tub room.

Kent Haina, a hospital board member since January 2009, also praised the project's results.

"I am thrilled that we have such a great facility and thankful for all that went into the design, the funding and the hard work of so many people to give Homer what it deserves," said Haina. "The quality has gone astronomically through the roof. It's a really nice facility. I'm shocked at the transformation."

Phase Two of the project wrapped up last week, with construction done by Jay-Brant General Contractors of Homer. It included the opening of an expanded surgery department and relocation of the family birthing center and pharmacy.

The improved surgery department includes outpatient suites for common day-surgery procedures, a registration area that increases patient privacy, a new waiting area and expanded pre- and post-surgery areas.

"What we really did there was a remodel," said Ferraro. "It's in the same footprint. ... We added new features from the perspective that now there are designated rooms for (procedures). It makes scheduling a lot better for patients."

Relocation and remodel of the family birthing center reflects a shift from a central delivery room to three private rooms that accommodate labor, delivery and post-delivery care for mother and infant. It also provides an increased level of security and offers a tub room for patients in labor.

Moving the hospital's lab from the first to second floor also was part of this phase. That was completed in May. The lab is now centrally located near registration, the emergency and imaging departments and patients' rooms.

"Having it close to registration means you can come in, register, walk a few steps down the hall and you're in the lab," said Jody Levit, lab director, comparing it to the previous location on a separate floor from registration.

Being near the emergency department means "turnaround time to serve ER patients is greatly shortened," Levit said.

The new lab has space for two blood draw stations, resulting in decreased wait time for patients. It has a separate room for the hospital's blood bank, in keeping with federal regulations. The new location also has tripled the space for microbiology.

"That's an area where we really see future growth as we get into molecular testing," Levit said.

In October 2009, the public was invited to view the new half-moon shaped patient wing with 18 single-occupancy rooms designed to accommodate overnight family members, a nursing station and a rooftop helicopter landing pad.

Voters in the South Peninsula Hospital Service Area in 2003 and 2007 approved bonds that funded the hospital expansion and remodel. Work on Phase One of the project began in 2005 and was completed in 2008, with construction done by Cornerstone Construction of Anchorage. It literally opened new hospital doors to a new reception area, with private admission rooms, and new emergency and imaging departments.

"This places us in a position now to carry us forward at least for a decade without having to do anything more," said Partridge. "Everyone should be proud of it."

McKibben Jackinsky can be reached at mckibben.jackinsky.@homernews.com.