New Owensboro hospital to open in less than a year | News

OWENSBORO, KY (WFIE)- Owensboro Medical Health System's new hospital is now less than a year from opening.

Friday, 14 News got a first look on how it's all coming together.

When you drive down US 60, you'll see a massive, nine story building in the distance, the new Owensboro hospital.

"The site is about five times larger. We're on 160 acres where our existing site is about 33 acres," said Joe Taylor with OMHS.

Officials say Owensboro's latest healthcare facility is all about efficiency.

"The OR rooms themselves are large in anticipation of the amount of equipment that has to go into the rooms," Taylor noted. "The patient rooms themselves have oversized doors to get in from the corner in the event of an emergency. Many of the rooms have patient lifts. One staff member can lift up a patient and get them in a wheelchair. Right now it takes four nurses."

Having windows everywhere serves a purpose too.

"The use of natural light in this building and the healing qualities," Taylor told 14 News.

"If we're more efficient, we're more safe. We can heal them faster," said OMHS Board Member G. Ted Smith.

In square footage, the new hospital is actually smaller than the current facility, but that's for a reason, too. Less wasted space means decreasing your chances of getting lost and having to walk farther to get where you're going.

"The focus is on quality of care and patient safety," said Taylor.

"Some are still skeptical about it, but I think when they come out here, they're going to walk away with pride." Smith said. "We didn't skimp on the dollars. We did everything we could to give the patients the best care."

Hospital officials tell 14 News the new facility will create more jobs, although it's unclear how many yet.

The new hospital is scheduled to open June 1st of next year.

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