Hospital notes ER expansion, heart-care addition
HOT SPRINGS — National Park Medical Center broke ground Tuesday on an expansion project that is slated to be completed in early 2016.
The 67,000-square-foot expansion project will include renovations and additional space for the existing emergency department, as well as a stand-alone heart-and-vascular center.
“Obviously, this will bring a more convenient level of access for emergency-room services and for heart-care services,” said Jerry C. Mabry, president of Capella Healthcare Arkansas Market and chief executive officer of NPMC. “The expansion will allow us to double the number of patient rooms in the emergency department.
“We feel the heart center is going to be a major advantage for folks who need cardiovascular services. It will house all services in one building, which means we will be able to bring patients into one area, and they will never have to leave that area for heart-care services.”
Mabry said he believes the local medical center, which is part of Capella Healthcare, based in Franklin, Tennessee, has “an excellent heart-care program.”
“I think we have the best in the region. We have four cardiologists on staff. They only come to NPMC.
“We have grown to the four cardiologists over the past two years. We hope to grow by another two or three cardiologists over the next five years.”
National Park Medical Center is at 1910 Malvern Ave. Access to the new addition will be from Hollywood Avenue.
The heart center, which will have a separate entrance, will feature a new waiting area, four cardiac catheterization labs, a pre- and post-op area, an eightbed cardiovascular intensive-care unit, and a cardiac rehabilitation and physical-therapy department.
Earl Swensson Associates
Inc. of Nashville, Tennessee, is the architectural firm for the project. B&F Engineering Inc. of Hot Springs is the engineering firm.
Joe Dierks, CEO of Greenland Financial and chairman of the NPMC Board of Directors, told the crowd gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony that he was “proud of the programs and the important contributions the medical center is making in the health care climate of Hot Springs. We are committed to continuing these services,” Dierks said.
He said the expansion project “will lead to better health care services, more jobs and a financial stimulus” to the community.
Dierks said NPMC’s slogan — Caring Comes First. Always. — sets the hospital apart from other health care facilities. “We always put the patient first,” he said.
“It is an exciting time at National Park,” said Dr. Robert Breving, general surgeon and NPMC chief of staff. “It’s exciting being a part of National Park’s growth.
“This expansion project will provide additional medical services and additional, new state-of-the-art equipment to help us save more lives. It will also create jobs and employ Arkansas construction companies, which will increase revenues to the local tax base.”
Breving said the medical center “is experiencing growth” while many facilities are having to close their doors. “We are creating jobs for Arkansans while maintaining profitability,” he said.
Jim Fram, president and CEO of the Greater Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce, said the health care industry is a “target industry” for the chamber.
“It helps bring jobs to the community,” he said. “Health care facilities tend to be major employers in the community. … They also provide volunteers and leaders in our community.”
Mike Pounders, administrative pastor of First Baptist Church of Hot Springs, offered a prayer and blessing before the ceremony began. Mandy Golleher, director of marketing and volunteer services, served as master of ceremonies for the event.