From staff reports, The Gazette Virginia
Apr 4, 2023
Source: Your GV
Photo Source: Unsplash, Sentara Healthcare announced Tuesday plans to build a new acute care hospital to replace the current Halifax County facility somewhere on the current property, representing an investment of $70 million.
The project — still early in the planning phase — is scheduled to be completed by 2026.
“As with all new construction we are still determining the best location but we plan to have the new building on the current property,” Joni Henderson, a spokesperson for Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital, told The Gazette. “We look forward to sharing the exact location once that decision is finalized.”
A news release said the new facility will have a high-efficiency, patient-centric layout representing the trend toward preventive care, outpatient services and shorter hospital stays. Initial design and planning are underway with architects Kahler & Slater, according to Sentara, and full details on the new hospital will be shared in the future.
“This is an exciting time for Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital and the community,” said Carol Thomas, chair of the hospital’s board of directors and member of the Sentara Healthcare Board of Directors “This new hospital will allow us to continue to offer quality health care locally for years to come.”
The announcement comes about 10 years after the Norfolk-based health care system acquired the hospital.
The Sentara branding was announced in 2014 and the name changed from Halifax Regional Health System to Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital. “As our 70th anniversary approaches, Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital prepares to provide the community with a modern facility that will serve us today and into the future,” Brian Zwoyer, president of Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital, said in a statement. “As plans are developed and finalized, we look forward to keeping the community informed about this exciting new hospital.”
The new facility will be modern, efficient and reflect the current trends in health care, according to the news release.
Since the hospital’s construction almost 70 years ago, the health care landscape and expectations of hospitals has changed drastically, this is particularly true for health care in
rural communities.
For example, surgeries that required spending days in the hospital are now minimally invasive outpatient procedures, Sentara officials said. Technology integration and the associated infrastructure are now a part of the facility design itself, rather than being retrofitted.
The importance of physical environment and surroundings in wellness and recovery are more understood and valued.
Sentara said the decision to construct a new hospital reflects realities of providing health care in rural areas and will help better align our hospital with the needs of this community to ensure sustainability for the long-term.
“It is time to write the next chapter in the hospital’s proud history of service to this community and this new facility will help ensure high-quality care for another 70 years,” said Dr. James Priest, chief medical officer for Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital. “I am excited about the future of Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital.”
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