In the midst of an economic recession, a hospital in central Pennsylvania is planning to expand.
There are high hopes for the new addition to Williamsport Regional Hospital.
With a toss of the shovels, the project to build a new patient tower at Williamsport Regional Hospital is officially underway.
The tower is part of an overall $250 million initiative at the Billtown campus, called Project 2012.
"I can't wait for the patient tower to be done, Ihope I'm not going to be one of the first patients, but you never know," said city resident Marlene Whaley. She has been battling cancer for months and said it means a lot to know the hospital can meet her health care needs, and right in her backyard. "It means a lot to me to know I don't have to go out of town for treatment."
The new patient tower at Williamsport Regional Hospital will be four stories high and include 84 individual rooms for patients. That way, hospital officials hope to prevent the spread of infections between those patients.
"What really counts is what it means to the doctors who practice here and the patients and that is quality health care well into the future," said Dr. Donal Leathers of Susquehanna Health.
Aside from becoming the new entrance to the Williamsport Regional Hospital, the tower is designed to expand the amount of space for patients like Marlyne Whaley who said as a patient, having a room of your own is priceless.
"With this new patient tower, all the patients will have their own room. That privacy means a lot," said Whaley.
Construction on the patient tower is expected to wrap up in early 2012.
There are high hopes for the new addition to Williamsport Regional Hospital.
With a toss of the shovels, the project to build a new patient tower at Williamsport Regional Hospital is officially underway.
The tower is part of an overall $250 million initiative at the Billtown campus, called Project 2012.
"I can't wait for the patient tower to be done, Ihope I'm not going to be one of the first patients, but you never know," said city resident Marlene Whaley. She has been battling cancer for months and said it means a lot to know the hospital can meet her health care needs, and right in her backyard. "It means a lot to me to know I don't have to go out of town for treatment."
The new patient tower at Williamsport Regional Hospital will be four stories high and include 84 individual rooms for patients. That way, hospital officials hope to prevent the spread of infections between those patients.
"What really counts is what it means to the doctors who practice here and the patients and that is quality health care well into the future," said Dr. Donal Leathers of Susquehanna Health.
Aside from becoming the new entrance to the Williamsport Regional Hospital, the tower is designed to expand the amount of space for patients like Marlyne Whaley who said as a patient, having a room of your own is priceless.
"With this new patient tower, all the patients will have their own room. That privacy means a lot," said Whaley.
Construction on the patient tower is expected to wrap up in early 2012.
