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Jessica Conroy (right), an ER nurse at Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center, gives a tour to visitors yesterday during the open house.
Marilyn West takes blood from a visitor during a health screening at the Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center yesterday. Screeners checked for cholesterol and diabetes.
The new Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center held an open house yesterday. Thousands toured the hospital and enjoyed a free lunch. |
A steady stream of visitors flowed through the doors of the new Spotsylvania Regional Medical Center yesterday, as the hospital held an open house less than a month before its June 7 opening day.
Tours took visitors through the 10-bed labor and delivery ward and the 20-bed emergency room. Other areas of the 126-bed hospital were off-limits because they must remain sterile until opening day.
Hospital spokeswoman Jeanne Burkett said that after two hours, the open house had seen about 2,000 visitors. Hospital staff were prepared to welcome about 5,000 with tours, free food, health screenings and giveaways.
Among the visitors were Linda and Reggie Brown, who live near the hospital, which is across the Spotsylvania Parkway from Germanna Community College.
The Browns were excited about having a hospital so much closer to them than Mary Washington Hospital in Fredericksburg.
Even if the difference in travel time for them is only 10 minutes, Linda Brown said, "That extra 10 minutes could be detrimental."
Reggie Brown said he thought having two hospitals owned by two different companies in the same region--the Spotsylvania hospital is owned by HCA Virginia Health System, while Mary Washington is owned by Mary Washington Healthcare--would benefit everyone.
"I think the people benefit from the competition that a new hospital brings," he said. "I'm very thankful for them being here."
Terika Richardson, the hospital's chief operating officer, said she had seen visitors from around the region, including Prince William County, Fredericksburg, the Dahlgren area of King George County and Caroline County.
Burkett said most questions were about basic facts, such as how many beds the hospital has and what services it provides, along with questions about volunteer opportunities and whether the hospital is still hiring.
While most positions are filled for opening day, Burkett said anyone interested can still visit the hospital's website at spotsrmc.com to fill out a job application or learn about volunteer opportunities.
Tour guides made sure to point out that the hospital is a tax-paying facility and expects to pay $4 million annually in taxes to Spotsylvania County.
That got at least one taxpayer thinking.
"I don't know why our real-estate taxes don't drop, if they're paying $4 million," one tour-taker said. "I'm gonna have to talk to [Spotsylvania Supervisor] Jerry Logan."
Emily Battle: 540/374-5413
Email: ebattle@freelancestar.com
