The last time Monroe County Hospital saw major upgrades was back in the 1970s.
Lorraine Smith, the hospital's Chief Executive Officer, says now the building is completely outdated. Entrances aren't wheelchair accessible, and there's one waiting room to serve both outpatient and emergency patients. Rooms are limited with only one bathroom for patients to use.
"It really doesn't lend to something that we highly value in healthcare, which is privacy," says Smith.
Back in 2017, the hospital almost closed down before partnering with Macon's Navicent Health. Navicent says the Monroe hospital needs major upgrades to better serve patients and to stay open, so they're borrowing $3.6 million to pay for the work.
They said waiting rooms will be separated, more rooms available, a complete rework of the emergency room, and easier access for emergency responders.
Smith says the renovations will also add a sense of comfort to patients. "When you don't feel well, you want to be taken care of, you want to be treated well, and you want privacy. You don't want everyone knowing what you have, or foot traffic," said Smith.
During construction, the hospital says patients can still come in. Construction workers will expand the building first to add space, then work on old rooms.
Smith says the safety of their patients will always come first, "We have to take into account things like infection control, noise, and things of those nature, so we are going to work very diligently to not disturb patients and make sure it's a dust-free environment, and infection-free environment, just like we always do."
The hospital plans to start construction in early February, and it may last up to a year.