The last structural steel beam of Parkview Regional Medical Center was hoisted into the air and put in its place Thursday. Mike Packnett, the President &CEO of Parkview Health, says “It's an important day for us. It represents more than half the project being complete.”
Parkview Regional Medical Center will soon become the city's largest hospital, taking up almost 1-million square feet. FOX Fort Wayne got a first hand look inside the shell of the structure. (Click on the video for a look at the tour)
Doctors, nurses and patients we asked for their input on the buildings layout. Mark Hisey, the V.P. of Changing Space on the project says “The goal is to have the patients and their families as comfortable as can be in a hospital environment.”
Lutheran Hospital also has construction underway. Lutheran kicked off construction on their 5th floor expansion Thursday. Joe Dorko, the CEO Lutheran Health Network, says “What's driving this 5th floor expansion project for us is to be able to convert all the hospital rooms from semiprivate to private rooms and the 5th floor allows us to do that.”
The $42.3 million project also includes renovating the existing floors. Hospital officials say the patient flow should not be disrupted by the construction. The expansion will add 96 private patient rooms to the Lutheran.
Both hospitals should be finished by the end of 2011. Lutheran Hospital will stay open through construction. Parkview hospital is in the process of creating a transition strategy on when they will bring patients into the building.
