KINGWOOD, W.Va. – The ceremonious ribbon has been cut for the upcoming opening of Preston County’s brand new $38.5 million health facility.
The 80,500 square foot Preston Memorial Hospital is an all-inclusive facility.
“We have our medical office facility, our physical therapy and all our hospital services in one location all on one level,” said Melissa Lockwood, Preston Memorial Hospital Chief Executive Officer.
The groundwork to begin construction on the hospital was beginning to be laid in 2007. The hospital is located on Route 26 in Kingwood near the entrance to Preston High School.
The location, according to Lockwood, was chosen by chance.
“We really were just fortunate that the county commission owned this property and wanted a new hospital here and were willing to donate that to us,” Lockwood said.
Patients who visit will notice a difference, although the overall hospital is about 15 percent smaller than the old facility.
“We have all private patient rooms with a little extra space built in for what they call family space in your room,” described Lockwood. “We’re just thrilled to be able to provide a new hospital.”
The expanded emergency department includes specialized rooms for cardiac, trauma and psychiatric patients.
“We certainly have larger spaces. Our emergency room is about 65 percent bigger than it is now,” Lockwood said.
Hospital departments will start to move from the 1955 facility to the new hospital May 14.
The first patients will be seen May 17.
“We’ll be closing our emergency room at the old hospital at 6 a.m. Simultaneously, the new emergency room will open at 6 a.m. Patients will be re-directed at that time. And, we have detailed plans in place to move all of our inpatients as well that morning,” Lockwood said.
The hospital will have 25 private patient rooms with two intensive care rooms.