JAMESTOWN – The frame of UMPC Chautauqua WCA Hospital’s new addition is nearing the end of assembly after hospital staff and community leaders held a ‘beam raising’ ceremony Thursday afternoon.
The new Maternity Care Center and Inpatient Mental Health Unit is a $20 million project funded by both state and community grants.
Hospital President and CEO Besty Wright told WNYNewsNow that the project has 42,000 square feet of patient care areas.
“The maternity services will be all private rooms with in-room bathrooms, great lighting, and a fully equipped O.R. (operating room) for c-sections (Caesarean sections).” Wright said.
Wright says the new mental health unit will include care that is currently not easily accessible in the area.
“We are able to provide outpatient as well as inpatient services,” Wright said. “If a patient comes to us in crisis, we have a very safe, calming area to get them through the crisis and connect them with whatever level of services they need.”
The hospital received an additional $6.4 million dollars to go towards infrastructure improvements.
All $26.4 million came from the New York Essential Health Care Providers Support Grant.
More funding came from the WCA Foundation, specifically Hannah’s Fund and the Kelly Ann Murphy Fund. Wright said that money will go towards comfort rooms on each level.
The project is expected to be complete in mid-2019.