By Ronica Shannon
The renovations made to Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center are expanding beyond physical structures and into the actual equipment used to detect illnesses or other problems with patients.
Congressman Ben Chandler (D-6th District) presented Pattie A. Clay CEO Bob Hudson with $236,000 Wednesday to help upgrade the hospital’s digital radiology equipment.
The funding was secured in October and was provided through the Kentucky Department of Education.
“This is about making a contribution to something that will help people live longer and have a higher quality of life,” Chandler said. “That’s what you all are doing at this facility on a daily basis and I’m just happy to be able to swoop in and lend a hand every now and then. I am very proud of what Pattie A. Clay does for this area.”
The funding given to Pattie A. Clay has helped purchase a picture archive and communication system, better known as PACS.
Two Konica-Minolta Computed Radiology Systems for digital X-rays also have been purchased.
The federal funding has helped hospital personnel do more than just upgrade technology.
“In addition to this (technology upgrades), Pattie A. Clay has seen progress on the renovation of our third and fourth floor of the hospital and are in the process of developing a primary care center in Lancaster. And, and we just recently opened up a wound-care center on Big Hill Avenue,” Hudson said.
“Thanks to Ben Chandler and the funds that he acquired for us, we have already seen a significant improvement in patient care, the integrity of our medical records, work flow, environmental impact and allows us to provide the highest possible care for our patients,” Hudson added.
Improving the quality of equipment inside the hospital and helping restore and expand the facility is something that can benefit the community’s economy in the long run, Chandler said.
“One thing we want to try to do any way we can is to try to provide employment,” he said. “Of course, if we have this medical center providing the very best service that can be provided, it’s ultimately going to be used more and it’s ultimately going to employ more people and that’s what we want to see.”
Renovations to the hospital also have been made possible by the Pattie A. Clay Foundation’s “Care, Compassion and Confidence” $2.7 million capital campaign.
The projected renovation cost is $4.2 million, with the remaining $1.5 million being financed internally.
New additions will include 47 single-patient rooms; a five-room transitional care unit; larger, redesigned nurse’s stations; space to accommodate the “hospitalist,” which provides an in-house physician 24 hours a day, seven days a week; and wall-mounted computer stations.
Ronica Shannon can be reached at rshannon@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, Ext. 234.
