From left: Dr. William J. Evans, Neurology; Matt Walker, Vice-President of Neuroscience, SRHS; Dr. Bart J. Edmiston, Sr., Interventional Pain Management; Lynn Truelove, Chief Operating Officer for Programs; Tommy Leonard, SRHS Board of Trustees; Christoph

Gulf Coast Health System Celebrates Post-Katrina Construction Projects

MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST–In the ongoing effort to rebuild the Mississippi Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina devastated the area six years ago, Singing River Health System (SRHS) has two major construction projects overlapping.

In January, hospital leaders broke ground on the $5.67 million Ocean Springs Neuroscience Building, which will provide one location for all neuroscience services, housing neurosurgery, adult and pediatric neurology, pain management, sleep medicine and all of the associated rehab services.

The Ocean Springs Imaging Center, located in the adjacent Ocean Springs Medical Park, which already serves neurology patients’ diagnostic and imaging needs, will complement each service. The building will also have space allotted for outpatient behavioral health and other physicians’ offices.

“By tying this building in with the imaging center, we’re going to have the ability for our patients to come through this door, see their doctor, get their images, get their diagnosis, get a plan of care and have the ability to follow-up with their therapies right here in this building,” said Lynn Truelove, COO for programs for SRHS, adding that the ease of access and the comprehensiveness of the neuroscience services located close together will facilitate the experience for patients. 

“They’ll be able to get all of their outpatient needs met in one or two locations for their entire episode of care versus six or seven as it stands today,” said Matt Walker, vice president of neuroscience for SRHS.

The project, designed by architect Hardy and Associates, and being built by contractor Dan Hensarling Inc., is on track for completion by mid-2012.

The 30,200-square-foot building will integrate each of the current neuroscience programs in Ocean Springs for the expected 250 patients a day that will use the complex, noted Walker.

Last month, SRHS celebrated the opening of the $20 million Singing River Medical Park, located a quarter mile east of Singing River Hospital on U.S. Highway 90 in Pascagoula.

The 76,000-square-foot facility, which treats patients from Singing River and Ocean Springs hospitals, includes all outpatient radiology services, a dedicated women’s imaging area, cardiac rehabilitation services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, aqua therapy, The Neuroscience Center, Neurology Associates of Mississippi, outpatient lab services, and Anchor Medical Clinic.

The medical park also houses the 24,000-square-foot SRHS Healthplex, which features a 25-yard lap pool, a warm water aqua therapy pool and a hot tub whirlpool. The facility also has a full cardiovascular training area, rowing machines, stair climbers, strength and conditioning area, circuit training, aerobics, cycling and yoga.

“The bottom floor is a very mission-oriented enterprise,” said SRHS CEO Chris Anderson. “We’re really excited to bring something like this to this side of the county. This is a place where anybody can come and get a good workout and do it under whatever level of supervision they would like.”

Healthplex Associates, which operates facilities across the nation, manages the fitness facility, which features FitLinxx, an online program that tracks workouts and exercise trends. For example, fitness instructors may message clients if their workout reflects too much cardio activity and too little weight work, and congratulate them as they achieve benchmark fitness levels.

"We knew we wanted to have services like that available to the community, but we’re not experts in that sort of retail environment,” said SRHS spokesperson Allison Cook. “It’s really worked out to be a great partnership. They’re going to be able to provide services we want and expect at the standard we want and expect.”

The second floor of the medical park is dedicated to neuroscience; outpatient imaging is located on the third floor. Reclining, heated, vibrating chairs, each with a television, are available in the women’s waiting area near the ultrasound labs and a post-procedure recovery area.

“It has an upscale feel,” said Karen Ehlers, director of radiology for SRHS. “We try to make it really warm and welcome for the people who come here.”

Construction began on the three-story building in November 2009, and was completed by local contractor Fletcher Construction. Greg Shoemaker, vice president of business development for SRHS, estimates 800 to 1,000 people will frequent the medical park daily; approximately 150,000 to 200,000 patient visits to the facility are expected annually.

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