Two quintessential community assets are a vibrant economy and quality health care.
Today's opening of the new St. Mary's Hospital - Jefferson City assures continuation of that contribution, started more than a century ago.
Moving day has arrived for the St. Mary's staff, physicians and patients, as they relocate and settle in at the new 167-bed hospital on Mission Drive, east of Missouri 179.
The transition marks a new chapter for the local facility, built in 1905 on hilltop property donated by the Moerschel family, owners of what is now the Coca-Cola Bottling Company.
The new 366,900-square-foot hospital was built at a cost of $200,000 million. The complex includes an adjoining four-story medical office building, all located on a wooded, 110-acre campus.
In addition to the private patient rooms, amenities include: an emergency department with 26 private rooms; seven surgical suites; a dedicated inpatient pediatric unit; cardiology, orthopedic and cancer services; maternity care and women's health; a pharmacy; a wound care center and infusion services.
This wide range of services is unified by a design, based on the Pebble Project, to emphasize patient and staff satisfaction, as well as operating efficiency.
The design is based on research showing the "private patient rooms reduce patient stress, reduce infection and improve sleep, while natural light and scenery reduce reported levels of pain."
Brent VanConia, hospital president, said: "We are setting a new standard of hospital design, one that's patient-focused, evidence-based and serious about caring for patients and families in the best possible way."
Tony Houston, St. Mary's chief operation officer, added: "With the dramatic changes in technology and health care in recent decades, this brand new hospital offers a clean slate for us to design the best experience for patients and families."
The hospital's emphasis is on patients and families, but our community also must acknowledge St. Mary's contributions not only to economic development, but also to exceptional health care.