Hospital celebrates beginning of project

With the turning of a dozen shovels, Alleghany Memorial Hospital celebrated the beginning of its $8 million construction/renovation project with a groundbreaking ceremony last week.

The project is slated to add 18,200 square feet of new emergency and surgical space and renovate 5,900 square feet of outpatient, laboratory and radiology space.

About 70 people attended the May 23 ceremony, held behind the present emergency department. Dr. James Frazier, a member of the AMH Foundation board, offered the invocation.

Jim Yarborough, AMH's chief executive officer, said, "I'm full of pride today. I'm proud of our community, proud of our staff, proud of everyone who has worked so hard to get us where we're at."

Another speaker, Jim Hauge, is vice-president of the N.C. Hospital Association, which includes 141 hospitals. "This project will be further evidence that this community cares for its own. This community's support will continue to be vital and critical," he said.

Hauge termed the hospital an important community resource and said its expansion and improvement will help attract economic and industrial development. "For a number of years, we've been literally bulging at the seams with the facility we've had, trying to figure out how to get stretchers around corners," said Dr. Jeff Ray, who is vice-chief of AMH's medical staff.

"What we're looking at today is a step to the future, not only to bricks and mortar, but to the foundation of medical services. My belief is that we will have specialty care delivered in our community that we do not see today. The quality of care will be improved."

Bill Saunders, chairman of the AMH board's planning and development committee, said the construction plan took much negotiating in Raleigh to get what was needed.

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