News From The Walton County Seat – Topping Off Of New Hospital

Anybody who has not had occasion to drive to the county seat via Highway 10 lately wouldn’t have had the opportunity to see the new Walton Regional Medical Center building rising up out of the groundbut the progress this year has been steady. After several delays, construction began in February this year and by Wednesday it had reached a stage when officials could hold the official Topping Out Celebration breakfast on the new campus.

In keeping with the tradition, construction crew members joined key members of the community in signing the final beam that will top off the new hospital structure. Also, as part of the tradition, an evergreen tree is placed at the top of the facility to symbolize growth and good luck.

A “topping-out” celebration is held when the highest point of a new building has been constructed. The celebration is to thank workers for their efforts, to honor their safe working and to wish safety for those about to complete the construction. Construction crew members were treated to a breakfast along with several hospital and public officials as well as VIP guests.

Stacy Jones, marketing director for Walton Regional Medical Center, said plans are on track to move into the new hospital by the spring of 2012.

“Construction should be completed by March 29 and then it will take a couple of weeks to bring in the equipment,” Jones said, adding all equipment will be new, not moved across from the old hospital. “We don’t know yet what we’re going to do with the old hospital campus.”

Jones said the move from one campus to the other would be simultaneous – not gradual. The old hospital would close as the new one opens.

“It takes a great deal of logistical co-ordination to close down one hospital and open a new one,” she said.

The new hospital, across the road from the Walmart and Home Depot in Monroe, is a 77-licensed bed hospital with an eight-bed intensive care unit. It has four SMART Operating rooms and two Endoscopy suites. Other services include 24-hour emergency care, general surgery, women’s service, orthopedics, pediatrics and lab and diagnostics.

The total investment of the almost 66-acre campus housing the 101,000 square foot hospital was more than $50 million with $20 invested in the hospital construction costs alone. The hospital is built in such a way that it will be able to expand along with the growth in Walton County. Officials said it would employ more than 360 skilled employees at an annual payroll of more than $15 million. It is also expected to contribute more than $350,000 annually in property taxes to the county. That, of course, will be offset by the closing of the current hospital. Jones said while officials are not sure what will happen to the old campus, other hospital buildings have been used for such things as office space or even training hospitals.

“We will take a look at the market and see what is the best use for it,” Jones said.

The occasion of the Topping Off Ceremony was used to present $5,000 on behalf of Manhattan Construction and many of its sub-contractors to Healing Angel Ministries.

"Many of our physicians volunteer their time to this free community health clinic that is not affiliated with WRMC," Jones said. "It is a stand alone non-profit whose mission is serving those without access to healthcare for management of chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and hypertension."