New Olney Family Clinic opens Monday
May 31, 2013
Construction of the new Olney Family Clinic and Rehab/Wellness Center is nearly complete, with a few, final finishing touches being applied to the building this week. At noon Friday, Jan. 18, the Lovett-Meredith Rural Health Clinic will close for the weekend, and will reopen as the Olney Family Clinic Monday, Jan. 21, at 100 S. Ave. M.
“There should be very little disturbance to patients,” said Mike Huff, hospital administrator.
Patients with appointments on Monday will report to the new clinic, where they will be among the first residents to see the inside of the brand new facility.
The family clinic entrance can be found beneath the covered walkway, and the rehab/wellness center is to the left.
While the prospect of seeing patients for the first time in a brand new facility is daunting, Huff said the doctors and staff from the LMRHC are ready for the challenge.
“Everyone is really excited,” he said. “But there’s still so much to do.”
One thing the staff will not have to do is move equipment. The new family clinic will feature almost all new equipment, as well as new furniture.
“Ninety-nine percent of it is new – except for the people,” Huff said.
Construction of the new facility kicked off in March 2012, but the initial work on the project actually began almost two years ago with planning by the Hamilton Hospital Board of Directors. They worked to secure financing and plan the structure before a community funding drive was held. The project’s budget was $4 million, including $3.5 million for construction and $500,000 for equipment and furniture.
“We’ve come in on time and under budget,” Huff noted.
All of that hard work resulted in a 7,608 square foot clinic featuring 10 exam rooms, two treatment rooms, two labs and ample room for doctors, nurses and clinic staff. The remainder of the project is an 8,156 square foot rehab/ wellness center with five therapy rooms, one classroom/exercise room, men’s and women’s showers and locker rooms and a 3,200 square foot fitness area with all new equipment, weights and an indoor, 1/8 mile walking track. The wellness program will become open to the public beginning Monday, Feb. 4, with individual and corporate memberships available.
While the doctors and staff will be vacating the LMRHC, there are many plans in store for that building.
“Our goal is to call it the Lovett-Meredith Specialty Clinic,” Hare announced.
The hospital is currently seeking grant money to help give the old clinic a facelift before seeking out various new specialists to come to Olney and join other specialists who already regularly see patients here.
“Our goal is to bring new specialists into the community to keep residents from having to go out of town for those services,” he said.
The specialty clinic project will be the focus once the family clinic move is completed. Patients who have appointments with specialty doctors currently coming to Olney will still visit them at the Lovett-Meredith clinic on Main Street.
The community is invited to participate in the grand opening of the Olney Family Clinic and Rehab/Wellness Center at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26.
Activities will include special speakers and walkthrough tours of the new facility.