Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Celebrating the opening of the Kosciusko SurgiCenter at Kosciusko Community Hospital, members of the public toured the new facilities Thursday following a brief ceremony.
The opening was also a part of the Warsaw-Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours and Community Open House.
The Kosciusko SurgiCenter is now a 15,612-square-foot facility expanding east from the hospital's present lobby and registration areas. The previous surgical area was 5,400 square feet. The addition includes two major operating room areas totaling five suites, two minor procedure and endoscopy rooms, 17 private prep and discharge beds and seven recovery beds.
Ground was broken for the SurgiCenter in February 2000. Part of the SurgiCenter went into service in September, with the remaining going into service in December.
The private prep and discharge beds circle around the nurses station and each room is an individual room. "Confidentiality is a huge issue," said Lora Beeson, Division Director of Outpatient Services. She said the focus was on patient and family recovery.
The two new operating room suites are 425 square feet, compared to 300 square feet in the old rooms. "It's really an advantage to our large cases," said Beeson. The rooms also provide up-to-date technology.
"We equipped every room with brand new anesthesia equipment," said Beeson.
The new facilities also have change rooms for the hospital staff, a lounge and a private consultation room.
Beeson said, "Patients' privacy, patients' comfort is paramount in doing this project."
Also as part of the project, the sterile processing was brought up from the basement of the hospital, according to Siobhan Davenport, division director of Women's Health Services and Facilities.
Wayne Hendrix, KCH CEO, gave the opening remarks of the ceremony.
"It's a genuine treat to share this moment with you," said Hendrix.
He said they were very proud of the efforts the surgeons, board of directors and other staff have made on behalf of the SurgiCenter.
"Our physicians really make what this hospital is today," said Hendrix. They have more than 60 physicians, including more than 30 surgeons.
He also thanked Beeson, Davenport, the contractors and architects. Thanks to them, he said, the projected was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.
Surgeries have increased dramatically since 1976 but now more than 70 percent of KCH surgeries are "in at 9 and out by 5," he said.
Chaplain Doug West gave the dedication and then Dr. K.T. Kishan, chief of surgery, spoke on behalf of the hospital physicians.
"I'm sorry I don't have any live surgery here" to show, he said, joking.
He said it was a pleasure to be a part of the celebration and he had waited a long time for it.
"The type of surgery we do here has definitely grown," he said. The rate of patient satisfaction for surgeries, he said, is more than 90 percent and is going to continue to get better.
He concluded by saying, "For me, the most important thing is the people."
Better Business Bureau Warns Seniors Of Scam
Staff Report
Senior citizens living in Kosciusko County are being urged by the Better Business Bureau to beware of individuals claiming to represent AARP promotions of living trusts.
The BBB has received several inquiries from senior citizens who have received telephone calls from people claiming to work for AARP and wanting to come to their homes to sell living trust forms.
"Despite what the callers may say, AARP has told me that it doesn't send anyone to homes nor has it hired anyone in Kosciusko County to go door-to-door to sell living trust materials," said Steve Sajko, operations manager at the BBB of Michiana.
Seniors receiving such calls should ask for the caller's name, as well as their company name, address and telephone number.
Also, ask the caller to mail information about the offer, if possible.
"Once you have this information, you can then investigate the offer by calling the BBB, state attorney general's office or other organizations," Sajko said. "If the company is legitimate, you can always call them back at a later date to set an appointment if you're still interested."
For a free brochure about tips on living trusts, send a written request with a self-addressed stamped business-size envelope to: BBB, Attn: Living Trust Tips, 207 N. Dixie Way, South Bend, IN 46637-3360.
