When Marshall Medical Center unveiled its beautiful new South Wing in September, thousands of people turned out to take tours and celebrate the long-anticipated facility.

The wing also welcomed its first 200 teddy bear patients.     

The 88,000-square-foot South Wing – which will officially open this fall –  includes a state-of-the-art Emergency Department, Verified Level III Trauma Center and Birth Center.

Marking the completion of the first phase of the hospital’s expansion, the three-day grand opening celebration drew approximately 4,000 visitors. Seven separate events were held for Marshall’s physicians, employees, businesspeople, major donors, VIPs and past board members, culminating with a Community Open House. The South Wing took three years to construct, although many more years went into designing and fundraising for the project.  

“This has been planned and promised for 20 years and the space turned out more beautiful than we could have hoped for,” says James Whipple, CEO of Marshall Medical Center. He and Board Chairman Gael Barsotti attended all seven events wearing tuxedos to reflect the significance of the new wing.

The dramatic enhancements to the Emergency Department – increasing in capacity from 15 to 24 beds, most of them private – include high-tech features, such as flat-screen tracking boards and voice-activated badges, along with diagnostic imaging capabilities and a trauma/resuscitation room.

The new Birth Center is also a marked improvement over the existing facility, offering 12 all-private rooms, an expanded nursery and a family-oriented, inclusive environment. The new building is slated to house more services as funding allows.

A highlight of the Open House was the Teddy Bear Clinic, which invited children to bring a doll or stuffed animal to the new Emergency Department for a checkup. About 200 “patients” received a “prescription” for a scoop of Baskin Robbins ice cream.

The hospital’s new Da Vinci robotic surgery system was on display for visitors to examine and the Open House included carnival games, face painting, health exhibits and free refreshments.

Whipple praised Marshall’s staff for its enthusiasm in welcoming the new South Wing. “I had someone mention to me that this felt like a wedding,” he says. “First we experienced the build-up and the big celebration of a blessed event. Now we embark on an exciting journey of making a difference in our community, bringing new life into this world and saving lives. As a Marshall employee for 31 years, I feel that this is one of our proudest moments.”

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For more information, visit marshallmedical.org.