Braden Health officials say they are working toward reopening Stuart Community Hospital by the end of the year, before its certificate of public need (COPN) expires. At the same time, Patrick County has approved a contract to transition its paid emergency medical staff to Patrick County EMS, a move leaders say will strengthen services without diminishing support for volunteer agencies.
The dual efforts represent two of the most significant health care developments for Patrick County in decades: restoring its hospital and reshaping its emergency response system.
EMS transition finalized
EMS members.
Under the agreement approved by county officials, Ambulance Services of Lexington, Inc., doing business as Patrick County EMS, will take over management of the county’s paid EMS staff, known as Station 8, by the end of the calendar year.
Current employees will be offered positions with Patrick County EMS, ensuring a seamless transition, according to a county release issued Monday. The company has also pledged $2 million to enhance local operations, including the purchase of new ambulances and advanced training for personnel. Patrick County EMS and Braden Health will handle their own direct billing, which county officials say will streamline operations.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Jonathan Wood said the move is designed to expand the county’s ability to respond to emergencies while recognizing the ongoing importance of volunteers.
“We deeply appreciate the community’s support of the hospital reopening effort and this creative solution to provide high-quality emergency care for our citizens,” Wood said. “This partnership strengthens our emergency response capacity while continuing to honor the critical role of our volunteers.”
The county will continue to employ an Emergency Management Coordinator, who will oversee disaster response, serve as liaison between volunteers and the Board of Supervisors, and manage EMS grants, training, and operational support.
Hospital progress
On Monday, Aug. 25, Braden Health Revenue Cycle Director Larry Henson led volunteer fire and EMS members, along with community leaders, on a tour of the hospital. He described ongoing renovations, outlined plans for new equipment, and spoke about the challenges of preparing the long-shuttered facility for patients again.
The centerpiece of the hospital’s equipment upgrades will be a 64-slice CT scanner moved from another Braden Health location.
“A lot of rural facilities, if they have a CT scanner, it’s going to be like a 16-slice, which really doesn’t do the cardiac scans or can’t do bone density, that sort of thing,” Henson said. “This one will be able to, so that will be a great start.”
Other technology and equipment will be improved as revenue allows, he added.
“As it makes sense, we will keep on improving equipment,” Henson said.
Renovations and new patient spaces
The hospital’s administration wing has been stripped of its carpet and wallpaper, with new flooring installed and fresh paint throughout most areas. A Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV) HVAC system is being added to allow patients to control airflow and temperature in their rooms.
Concrete has also been poured outside the Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy (PTOT) room, creating a space where patients can exercise outdoors.
“If PTOT patients need to get a breath of fresh air, do some exercises out here, they now have the freedom to do so,” Henson said.
The former intensive care unit is being converted into a medical-surgical unit, which will include a nurse station, in-patient rooms, and swing beds. An updated Pyxis medication machine will be installed there, and the medication room is being relocated to provide more workspace.
Because some patient rooms are large, Henson said they will be able to accommodate two beds.
“Of course, for state purposes we have to have 25 beds… which will not be a problem reaching that,” he said.
In the basement, two operating rooms are being prepared. To meet state requirements, about 20 additional electrical outlets will be added in each, bringing the total to 36. One wing of the basement will remain closed, with staff focusing on cleaning and preparing areas needed for the hospital’s reopening.
“It used to have offices down here, credentialing, medical records, we even had maintenance guys down here as well. We’re still working on cleaning this area up, but obviously we’re prioritizing the areas of cleanup where the hospital’s actually going to be open,” Henson said.
While the operating rooms are in progress, Henson said it has not yet been determined what types of surgeries will be performed there.
Infrastructure improvements
Major work is also underway to bring the hospital’s infrastructure up to code. A new concrete pad has been poured near the former emergency room for a liquid oxygen tank, replacing a brick enclosure that no longer meets state requirements. A spill pad will be added, and the tank will be installed once the concrete cures in two to three weeks.
“We decided to put the pad down here” near the old ER area “and they actually just poured concrete this morning. We’re going to make what’s called a spill pad in front of that to connect with the asphalt. Then as soon as that’s complete, we have to allow for two to three weeks for it to dry because it is a thick pad. We already have a liquid oxygen tank acquired, so we just have to wait for the right timing to actually drop it into place,” he said.
Ambulance access will also be improved by removing curbs near the emergency room bay and laying asphalt in their place.
“We are going to take out these curbs completely and get asphalt to basically make this a better area, an easier area for EMS vehicles to maneuver,” Henson said. The asphalt will extend to the edge of the building, creating more room for parking and turnarounds.
Preparing for opening
Inside, preparations for the hospital’s reopening are steadily progressing. Some patient beds have already been delivered, with additional furniture on order. Flooring will be stripped and resurfaced, and ceiling tiles will be replaced last.
“We had a life safety inspector come in… he was so excited that we had all of the ceiling tiles down still. He’s like, ‘it makes my job 10 times easier.’ So, replacing the rest of the ceiling tiles will be the very last thing that we do,” Henson said.
The facility has already been inspected by Patrick County Building Inspections Official Jason Brown, the state fire marshal, and other authorities to ensure compliance with safety standards. Braden Health has also begun the process of hiring administrators, doctors, and other essential staff in preparation for reopening.
