By Bill Archer
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
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PEARISBURG, Va. — A crowd of about 300 people turned out for the dedication of a new “critical access hospital” located in Giles County, Va., Carilion Giles Community Hospital, serving patients of the greater Giles and Monroe county region.
“It was an exciting ceremony,” Eric P. Earnhart, Carilion spokesman said. “The local Masonic lodge conducted a cornerstone dedication ceremony. I had never seen that ceremony before. It was a very interesting ceremony.”
James Hartley, chairman of the Carilion Clinic board of directors spoke about Carilion’s commitment to rural health care, according to Earnhart. James Tyler, hospital president and president of the Virginia Rural Health Association also participated in the dedication, Earnhart said. Tyler is a member of the Rural Hospital Constituency Group with the federal office of Rural Health Policy. He recently completed a year-long fellowship program in Rural Health Policy with the National Rural Health Association. State Senator John S. Edwards, D- Roanoke and State Delegate Anne B. Crockett-Stark, R-Wythe were among the guests participating in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Carilion Giles Community is an 86,388 sq. ft., $50 million facility that includes 21 single rooms for patient care and four rooms for intensive care. Giles Community is designated as a “Rapid Diagnostic Center,” that allows for treatment of patients in a non-emergency setting. The major departments in the new hospital include imaging, an operating suite including two operating rooms plus endoscopy and minor procedures, physical and other forms of therapy, laboratory, pharmacy and other spaces, according to a fact sheet Earnhart provided.
Carilion Clinic broke ground on the new facility on April 11, 2008. The new hospital is more than 25,000 sq., ft., larger than Carilion Giles Memorial Hospital, the facility that the new hospital replaces.
The next step in the dedication and transition process from the old hospital located on Taylor Avenue in Pearisburg to the new facility located at the former Dogwood Farm property, also in Pearisburg, will be a march from the downtown to the new facility followed by a community open house and fair starting at 11 a.m., on Saturday morning, May 8.
“The new hospital will serve the people of Giles County, Va., Monroe County, W.Va., and the surrounding areas,” Earnhart said.
– Contact Bill Archer at barcher@bdtonline.com
