Next set of renovations to begin at Perry County hospital

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- An architectural firm and contractor have been selected and a groundbreaking date set for the largest phase of construction in Perry County Memorial Hospital's 58-year history.

The $17.3 million project will replace the hospital's surgical unit and patient care wing and renovate its community waiting room. Almost half the area of the new construction will be the replacement of a wing built in the 1970s that houses its patient care and surgical care unit.

Lee Clinton, vice president of operations at Perry County Memorial Hospital, said one of the most important features will be all private-room care. Patients currently share some of the rooms.

"It was fine for the older generations but early baby boomers are expecting private-room care," Clinton said. "My hope is the project will instill greater confidence in the community for the health-care system and in turn will garner better loyalty from them.

Once complete, all operating-room care will be on the first floor and medical surgical care will move to the second floor. A new hospital lobby will connect with a hall leading patients to the hospital's emergency room department, increasing privacy for those individuals.

Other areas being replaced include the power plant, gift shop, materials management department, chapel, inpatient pharmacy and nursing administration department.

The entire project is expected to be complete by 2011. A groundbreaking is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.

During its June 4 meeting, the Perry County Health System Board chose Christner Inc. of St. Louis as its architect and Brockmiller Construction of Farmington, Mo., as the contractor of the project. Brockmiller Construction was awarded a $14,499,000 contract, beating the $14,594,000 bid of Brinkman of St. Louis and four other contractors.

The project will be funded through letters of credit and bonds through Bank of Missouri, First State Community Bank and People's National Bank.

Brockmiller Construction was also the company chosen as the contractor for the first phase of the project, a 25,000-square-foot freestanding medical and patient rehabilitation office. Completed in May 2008, the office is home to MidAmerica Rehabilitation, Perry County Women's Care, Perryville Surgical Center and, in September, Dr. Joseph Byrne's orthopedic care center.

The final phase of construction is scheduled to begin in 2011. While complete details are not known, hospital spokeswoman Jessica Krauss said the phase will include renovations of the emergency room, additional spaces on an adjacent parking lot and an outside facelift of a section of the building that will not be replaced during the second phase.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628

Pertinent address:

202 Hospital Lane, Perryville, MO