PERRY COUNTY HOSPITAL SETS OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY

PERRYVILLE -- Perry County Hospital in Perryville has undergone some changes in the past two years, both in appearance and the type of care available there.

On Sunday, the hospital will open its doors to dedicate the expansion and hopefully to introduce people to the "new" facility, said Administrator Patrick Bira.

The hospital's $3 million expansion and renovation was recently completed. Started in June 1990, the expansion gives the hospital the ability to offer additional out-patient services, Bira said.

"This not only brings the facility up to date as far as appearance, but it has been extensively redesigned to accommodate modern demands of medicine," Bira said.

The administrator said more and more people are seeking outpatient services as a way to cut medical costs and as a way to reduce the amount of time spent in treatment. In order for the hospital to compete with other area hospitals, the changes were imperative, he said.

One of the newest outpatient services is availability of a machine called a Dynatron. Bira said this machine can be used by companies to test the physical skills of employees or test the severity of injuries.

In some working environments, "if an individual is placed in a job, there has to be substantiation that they have the ability to do that specific job," Bira said. The company can send the employee to the hospital to test his or her skills, he said.

Worker's compensation claims can also be supported or dismissed using the machine, he said. Someone who is injured on the job usually needs assurance by a physician that they are well enough to work again. Companies can now send their workers to the hospital for these types of tests, Bira said.

"This is not subjective," he said of the physical testing the machine administers. "This equipment offers substantiation, and can even pinpoint when people are not as injured as they claim to be."

Offering more outpatient services is also a way to make the hospital more of a hometown answer to medical care, he said. Residents of Perry County must still travel to Cape Girardeau or St. Louis for certain surgical procedures, Bira said. But the hospital will now be able to offer other types of care close to home, he said.

The appearance of the hospital has also been improved, adding to the sense of security patients can feel when staying there, he said.

The remodeling and expansion was funded by revenue bonds, which are not tax-supported but depend on the revenue of the hospital for repayment.

The total project included construction of a new emergency room, an expanded physical therapy department, and construction of a new lobby, communication office and gift shop.

Also remodeled were the obstetrics unit, business offices and respiratory therapy unit.

On Sunday beginning at 1 p.m., the hospital will hold a dedication of new flag poles by the Veterans of Perry County. When the hospital was first opened in 1951, it was dedicated to veterans.

A new hospital chapel, located on the first floor, will also be dedicated. Immediately following the dedication ceremony, tours of the new and remodeled areas of the hospital will be given.