The first baby born in the labor and delivery unit at West Georgia Medical Center’s new South Tower arrived at 8:49 a.m. Tuesday. Abby-Kate Bond, daughter of Brooke and Aaron Bond, was delivered by Dr. George Stefenelli and weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce.
The catheter lab in the adjacent former Georgia Heart Clinic is being dismantled and moved into the new building, a process that will take about three weeks, hospital spokeswoman Allison Davis said. The South Tower’s new emergency department was “pretty busy” Tuesday on the first day, treating 168 patients, Davis said.
“The feedback on the new space has been very positive, particularly in the emergency department,” she said. “People are definitely responding well to the spaciousness and the nice soothing atmosphere.”
The former emergency department was designed for about 25,000 patients per year, but the number has risen to about 60,000, said department director Randy Calhoun. The South Tower emergency space is about 33,000 square feet, nearly triple the former size.
“It’s a great benefit to our patients and families as well as our staff,” Calhoun said. “The entire space has been completely redesigned to maximize comfort, privacy and efficiency.”
The intensive-care unit will move into the South Tower on June 7.
“We are excited and proud to be able to offer our community and the region a top-quality medical facility that promotes wellness and good health, and will enable us to continue our tradition of caring for the community for many more generations to come,” said hospital President/CEO Jerry Fulks.
The 130,000-square-foot, four-story building also includes a new hospital main entrance and lobby. It has 52 paintings and working drawings by LaGrange native Lamar Dodd and other artwork by local residents. Dodd’s paintings had been in the old Heart Clinic, which will be razed for additional parking and expansion of the South Tower’s lobby.
Joel Martin can be reached at jmartin@ lagrangenews .com or (706) 884-7311, Ext. 235.
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