Grand Opening of New Surgery Unit

September 26th, 2023

Building Surgical Excellence at Ohio County Healthcare

Ohio County Healthcare (OCH) prepares to open their much-anticipated new surgical unit after 18 months of construction and several years of planning at a celebration on Friday, September 29^th, 2023. The 27,000 square-foot addition adjoins the hospital and has increased the size of the hospital campus by approximately 40%. The addition is built on a one-acre plot located directly behind the hospital with entry off McMurtry avenue. The new surgical wing contains three large multi-specialty operating rooms, one of which will house the new da Vinci Xi robotic surgical system. There are also three additional procedure rooms, a pre-and post-operative care unit, and a corridor connecting it to the existing hospital. For enhanced convenience, patients will register at the new location which also includes a large waiting area and a direct access parking lot.

"The addition of robotic surgical treatment will greatly increase the complexity of surgeries performed at OCH and lessen recovery time for our patients. This will allow more patients to remain closer to home for surgical care." states Elizabeth Ottman, MD, OB/GYN & OCH's Medical Director of Surgical Services. The da Vinci system delivers 3D high-definition views, giving the surgeon a crystal- clear view of the surgical area that is magnified 10 times to what the human eye can see. This is truly where surgical innovation meets healthcare excellence.

The surgical wing was designed by ESa Architectural Group out of Nashville, TN. Phase one of the multi-phased construction project was overseen by Wehr Construction, whose corporate offices are located in Louisville, KY. The financing to build the unit was secured in partnership with the Ohio County Fiscal Court through the rural development office of the United States Department of Agriculture. Funding for phase one of the project was over $20 million dollars which was utilized for the construction of the new surgical wing, renovations to current hospital space, and the purchase of new equipment and technology to support the surgical expansion. During the next year, OCH will invest another $5 million dollars in the second phase of building surgical excellence to renovate space where the former surgical and outpatient areas were located. Additionally, over the past several years, OCH has purchased over $1 million dollars of real estate surrounding the hospital campus for space to build the surgical unit, increase parking for patients and staff, and add additional office space.

"OCH's strategic initiative to build surgical excellence extends beyond this building project," states Shellie Shouse, CEO. "We have and will continue to invest a great many resources into increasing the number of surgical services available to our patients through the recruitment of surgeons, hiring additional staff, investing in training programs, and purchasing state-of-the art equipment. This commitment is part of the outstanding care we provide to the communities we serve."

Ohio County Healthcare currently has 22 local and regional surgeons credentialed to perform surgeries in the following specialties: Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT), Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Pain Management, Podiatry, and Urology.

The community will have an opportunity to tour the new surgical unit during an open house scheduled for Friday, September 29th from 5-7 p.m. at Ohio County Healthcare. Guests should enter at the McMurtry Street entrance. This is a unique opportunity to see a part of the Ohio County Healthcare system that is typically reserved for staff and patients having surgery. The Open House will include refreshments and giveaways.