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A new health care expansion project is under way in Kosciusko County.
Wednesday a groundbreaking ceremony was held at Kosciusko Community Hospital for the Women's Health Center.
"We're here to celebrate and we're very excited," said KCH Chief Executive Officer Wayne Hendrix in his opening remarks.
The center is a culmination of more than four years of planning on the part of the doctors, nurses, board members and the community. "This is a very much needed community resource," he said.
KCH Chaplain Randy Packer gave the building dedication, and Dr. Erin Jungbauer, Provident Family Healthcare, spoke first.
"It might be symbolic that I, as a woman, speak first, because (this center) is going to put women's health care in the forefront," said Jungbauer.
She said the center will have a staff of 21 family physicians, two obstetricians/gynecologists and three pediatricians, with more expected to join the staff.
Jungbauer said, "This is going to be a great facility. This is a great place to have a baby and my daughter is proof of that."
"I look forward with great anticipation to when this women's health center is complete," said Dr. Tom Howard, Warsaw Women's Center.
He said it represents not only a commitment to health care improvement in the community but also a commitment to health care access.
A special thanks was given to the late Dr. Richard Cross and the late Melissa Walter by KCH Radiologist Dr. Marvin Walker. Walker said both would have been very proud of the new facilities.
In concluding remarks, Hendrix said, "What we've planned is a complete women's center. ... It will (also) have the aesthetics that women want and need." He said it was all a part of Quorum's commitment to take KCH into the future. "They know that health is an important issue."
The Center was developed to serve the needs of area women through improved access to state-of-the-art, integrated facilities and health care services, including obstetrics, gynecology, radiology, surgical services and other specialized women's health care.
The expansion will extend the existing hospital facility by 13,000 square feet. The Great Beginnings Maternity Center will move into a replacement facility using a part of the present department and newly constructed areas. The new maternity department will include four labor-delivery-recovery rooms, 10 private rooms and a nursery. Women's diagnostic services will expand into the space vacated by the maternity unit. The new facility will provide meeting space and health education resources that address women's health care needs.
"The Women's Health Center will benefit our community as specialized services for area women will be improved and more educational opportunities will be provided," said Jungbauer.
"The updated facility will enhance patient care, comfort and privacy. Additionally, the renovation of the maternity center will allow us to provide more family-centered maternity care."
The Women's Health Center groundbreaking follows the Kosciusko SurgiCenter construction, slated for completion in December.
Siobhan Davenport, division director of inpatient services and facilities at KCH, said, "The SurgiCenter and the Women's Health Center will greatly elevate the level of health care services that our medical staff can provide to their patients ... and patient care is the priority."
