Bedford County’s Medical Center Opens New, $50 Million Facility
bedford county, bedford county medical center, community health systems, health, hospital technology,
Bedford County Medical Center’s brand-new facility opened in June 2008 with a new CEO, upgraded technology, more efficient processes and a whole new approach to customer service.
The $50 million, 100,000-square-foot medical center on U.S. Highway 231 in the Airport Business Park replaces a nearly 60-year-old structure in a different location.
“We’re moving up, and we’ve upgraded equipment accordingly,” says CEO Dan Buckner, who came on board in January 2008.
The new Community Health Systems-owned hospital is a non-smoking campus, and all staff members – whether they’re nurses or maintenance workers – wear uniforms. Processes have been streamlined to cut down on patients’ paperwork, and new technology makes for faster, more convenient service.
For example, an integrated digital computerized radiography system allows an X-ray image to be uploaded into a computer in seconds.
“The radiologist and the ER doctor can look at the image together in real time and discuss it 30 seconds after it was taken,” Buckner says. “That will improve services quite a bit.”
One of Buckner’s favorite innovations is an automated system of individual phones that nurses wear on their belts. The phones alert nurses when patients press the call buttons in their rooms. If a nurse is busy at the time, she can replay the message to remind her where she needs to go next.
“It’s an automated system to help the nursing staff be quick and responsive,” Buckner says. “The nurses are going to love it, and the patients will love it.”
Another big change is the medical center’s emphasis on customer service. Everyone on staff is taking part in a three-year customer-service program.
“We’re investing for the long term,” Buckner says. “We want customer service to flow in our blood. We have every intention of becoming the impressive community hospital that Bedford County deserves.”
Employees have already embraced the change.
“Patients are seeing the difference,” Buckner says. “As soon as you get a spark going in the staff, it catches on pretty fast. And who doesn’t enjoy learning how to be excellent at their job?”
While a bit larger in size, the medical center’s new building drops from 104 beds to around 60, reflecting an overall trend toward larger, private rooms and more outpatient treatment. The emergency area will double in size.
The new building also has been designed for expansion.
“Every single department has a plan for growth, and the design is well done so the building can grow without affecting the current level of service,” Buckner says.
“We’re not trying to be the rich and famous, do-everything hospital,” he adds. “We’re looking to be really good at what we do here at your local community hospital, where the nurses and doctors are your next-door neighbors.”
Story by Rebecca Denton
Photo by Jeff Otto
