New Emergency Department Now Open

RIBBON CUTTING: Pikeville Medical Center officials cut the ribbon for the hospital’s new Emergency Department on July 6. Pictured are: President and CEO Walter May; attorney Pam May; Interim COO Juanita Deskins; Chief of Staff Dr. William Gaunt (Medical Director of Wound and Hyperbaric Care); Medical Director of Emergency Services Dr. Brandon Smallwood; Director of Emergency Services Michelle Rainey and Board Member Judith Hinkle.

Pikeville Medical Center showcased the newest and best equipped emergency department in the region with a Pike County Chamber Business After Hours event, an open house and a ribbon cutting ceremony on July 6.

The $10 million investment and 23,000 square foot addition to the hospital provides patients with a more comfortable environment, reduces time spent waiting to see a doctor, and, ultimately, saves lives.

PMC President and CEO Walter May thanked the hospital’s Board of Directors for continued support. He called the grand opening a “banner day” for PMC and the community.

“PMC’s Emergency Department is certainly one of the busiest in the state with approximately 40,000 patient visits per year,” May said. “It’s a daunting task for everyone — the doctors and the nurses and everyone who works in the department — to be ready for any type of emergency.”

PMC Chief of Staff Dr. William Gaunt also expressed his appreciation.

Click to enlarge

“It is incredible to have all the technology that Mr. May and the board of directors have made available to us so we can take excellent care of our patients,” he said.

The planning and implementation of the hospital’s newest addition took approximately three years. Louisville-based Stengel-Hill Architecture designed the new department, which was constructed by Rose Builders of Pikeville.

The new ED includes two trauma bays, three triage bays, physiological monitoring in every room and on-site digital x-rays and CT Scans. The department is now a better equipped facility, offering quicker response times, much faster access to CT scans and a quicker turnaround on lab work. The goal for PMC’s emergency department is to always provide the best care possible.

“This Emergency Department is committed to providing high quality care,” said Dr. Brandon Smallwood, the Medical Director of the Emergency Department. “In fact, our vision statement is to advance the quality of emergency health care in eastern Kentucky, and we are going to accomplish that goal as we continue to move forward. To provide the highest quality care for this area is why we are here I am really glad to be a part of PMC’s Emergency Department.”

Smallwood introduced members of the Marshall Emergency Services Associates (MESA), a group that provides physicians for the Emergency Department.

In attendance were Dr. John Mullins, Dr. Doug Smith, Dr. Brent Rody, Dr. David Minix, Dr. Anthony Keene, Physician Assistant Shelebra Bartley, Mike Kitchen and Amanda Meyer, a physician liaison, all who work in cooperation with PMC to make sure there is adequate staff to take care of the patients.

Michelle Rainey, the Nursing Director of the Emergency Department, introduced a new directive called “direct to bed mode” which allows patients to be immediately taken to beds (when available) instead of the triage area for registration.

Click to enlarge

“Our goal is quality care and we are focused on getting the patients in and out quickly,” Rainey said.

Local officials said the facility will benefit the region.

“Pikeville Medical Center means so much to this area,” said Pike County Judge Executive Wayne T. Rutherford.

“It’s the county’s largest employer. PMC is an integral part of our community. It is great that this hospital has invested 10 million dollars to improve emergency medical care. The construction projects bring a lot of jobs and money to the area, and just look at the potential for permanent jobs.”

Pike County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Brad Hall said the new Emergency Department is a “great advantage” to the community.

“I think the medical center is one of the greatest assets we have to show prospective businesses considering a move to Pike County,” he said.

Prior to the public open house, PMC’s medical staff and employees and local emergency medical responders toured the facility.

“We have more than 1,800 employees who try to live our mission statement daily … providing quality regional healthcare in a Christian environment. These efforts really say something about our hospital and the efforts of the staff,” Interim COO Juanita Deskins said.

And who gets credit for PMC having an emergency department that is the size, the scope and the quality of this one?

“It’s the Lord God almighty,” May said. “If He doesn’t bless this institution, we don’t amount to anything.

“So many doors have opened for this hospital that this is the only explanation for our growth.”