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The Fairview Medical Center in Wyoming is preparing for opening its multi-million dollar expansion in a couple of weeks.

For the press tour March 20 the new automatic doors were functioning and carpet had been laid. Punch lists were tacked to the outside of rooms still lacking things like soap dispensers-- but much of the expansion project was approaching patient-ready mode.

The new helipad stands just outside the new entry to ER and urgent care. Landscapers were putting finishing touches on chunky block retaining walls in the circle drive.

Fairview's new emergency room and urgent care department in Wyoming opens May 17. The emergency room and urgent care and diagnostic imaging entrance will be off the north side of the complex. The "main" Fairview entrance, facing southeast, continues to be accessed from the large parking lot area.

Fairview President Dan Anderson called the project a "sizeable square footage addition." He proudly pointed out many of the cutting edge features available. (Anderson is pictured on jump page, with the "Skytron" a ceiling mounted unit that swivels 360 degrees and carries lights, equipment and monitors.)

Fairview also included amenities in response to the potential for bio-terrorism activities, such as airlock rooms in ICU to quarantine numbers of patients if necessary. ICU opens with eight new rooms and is roughed-in for 12.

Anderson also pointed out spaces that won't be finished for a while. The addition was constructed to meet patient needs and numbers for five to seven years, said Anderson.

Fairview is also incorporating a new fixed MRI machine within this addition, which will be used along with the mobile technology when demand requires.

The CT scanner is being upgraded to a 64-slice capability. The newly designed diagnostic department allows for centralized services.

There's an electronic patient "tracking" system, where a code number attached to a patient will allow families and loved ones to view updates on patients' progress. Information monitors are positioned around the waiting areas. Surgery recovery rooms are immediately adjacent to the same day surgery area.

Fairview in Wyoming has treated 40,676 in its emergency and urgent care departments.

"This represents the largest expansion of the medical center since we opened our doors February 14 1998," Anderson commented. "We're pleased that this first phase...was completed on schedule. Several months of additional construction lie ahead of us before the entire project is complete at the end of this year."

Within the Fairview building there's also remodeling taking place in dietary and dining services and the respiratory therapy unit is being relocated and expanded. The "Birthplace" will grow into the old ICU space on the second floor. Five medical/surgery patient rooms are being added as part of the continuing second phase, second floor remodel.

Total cost for the project is almost $30 million. By January 2008 everything should be done, and February 2008 Fairview Lakes Medical Center celebrates 10 years at the Wyoming campus.

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Anderson also mentioned that sometime in 2008 the Ebenezer senior facility, situated just south and east of the medical center, will have a 32 unit elderly apartment complex under construction.

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