SOUTHEAST HOSPITAL TO OPEN NEW BUILDING

The first phase of the 12th and largest-ever expansion project at Southeast Missouri Hospital -- the 105,000-square-foot, four-level, $19 million Clinical Services Building -- will be showcased during a series of special open-house ceremonies early next month.

"Work is nearing completion on the project," said Richard W. Meyer, assistant administrator at Southeast Hospital. He said an open house to showcase the new facility to the public will be held April 10, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Other open-house ceremonies will be held, including those for the medical staff, donors to the capital campaign and the hospital workers during the week.

The ground and second level, along with the LifeBeat Air Medical Service quarters on top of the building, will open next month. The remaining two levels will open during the third quarter of this year.

"The construction of this new building will help position Southeast Hospital for the future," said Meyer. "We're proud of our new facility, which also includes a large parking area adjoining the new Clinical Services Building."

The building was almost two years in construction. Ground-breaking ceremonies for the structure were held in May 1992.

"We're on target for opening," said Meyer. "We've had good weather throughout the construction period."

The hospital is expected to take possession of the building soon, and start installation of new equipment and relocation of existing equipment and furnishings.

The new emergency services area will be located on the ground level, said Meyer.

"The emergency facility will provide the hospital with much more space and help us meet an increasing emergency need," said Meyer.

The new emergency department will include 16 treatment areas for major and minor trauma, orthopedic, obstetrics and gynecology, medical and pediatric patients; two minor care treatment areas; large centrally-located nurses station; X-ray area, three-bay unloading area for emergency vehicles and a classroom facility for public and professional in-service education programs.

Hospital officials project that emergency services will see more than 27,500 patients by 1995.

"The second level will house an expansion of the surgery department," said Meyer. "It will include four additional operating rooms. This brings to 10 the number of operating suites we have at the hospital."

Also included in the surgery department will be a 14-bed recovery room, 16-bed outpatient recovery room, outpatient patient-family waiting room and expanding pre-admitting and pre-anesthesia areas.

Meyer said much of the surgery done today is on an outpatient basis.

Southeast Hospital by the year 2,000 is project to see as many as 90,000 outpatients annually.

The hospital serves approximately 550,000 people living within a 100-mile radius of Cape Girardeau.

On top of the fourth level of the building is a flight operations center and heliport for LifeBeat, Southeast's air medical service.

"The heliport is one of the most modern available," said Meyer. "The landing pad is equipped with deicing equipment. In case of snow or ice, the deice equipment automatically activates to keep the landing pad clear."

The air medical service has become a big plus for the hospital. Last year LifeBeat received over 700 requests for service.

The upper two levels of the building are expected to be open this fall.

"One level will house the radiology department," said Meyer. The other level will provide space for an expanded clinical-pathology laboratory, expanded cardiovascular services, and a new 12-bed cardiothoracic unit.

The new parking facility, which will open in conjunction with the clinical services building, will provide space for about 100 vehicles.

"These are primarily for employee parking," said Meyer. "But this does not include about 30 spaces next to emergency services for emergency room visitors and people in that area."

Hospital officials are already planning for renovations of the space to be vacated by the current emergency services and radiology departments.

"We're talking to various departments at the hospital, assessing their needs," said Meyer. "If everything goes well, we'll be in position later this year or early in 1995 to announce renovation plans."