YAKIMA, Wash. – MultiCare Memorial Hospital has started a $30 million renovation project aimed at upgrading its facilities. The extensive renovation will span three years and consists of 13 phases.
Construction began five weeks ago as the hospital celebrates 75 years of service in the community. MultiCare is committed to staying in Yakima, said Chief Operating Officer Kim Bersing.
“From a work environment it’ll just be a much cleaner, much fresher environment for both staff and patients,” Bersing said.
The renovations are part of MultiCare’s acquisition of Memorial Hospital. Bersing detailed the upgrades.
“We’re looking at part of the intensive care unit. And so, we’re going to be doing fit and finish to those rooms, which includes new paint and flooring and those types of things. We’re also doing a fit and finish right now on our third floor. It’s one of our med search floors and our physical therapy area up on the fifth floor. At the end of the fit and finish renovation, what you’ll see is new fit and finish in all areas of the hospital on the medicine, third floors and the nurses’ stations,” she said.
The hospital serves around 200 patients at a time, and during the renovation, up to 22 patient rooms will be temporarily unavailable. Bersing assured that plans are in place to maintain full-strength hospital operations.
“We’re trying to minimize the disruption in rooms, so we’ve kind of made some new units where we’re putting patients so that we’re able to keep the rooms open and serve the community,” Bersing added. “From a work environment it’ll just be a much cleaner, much fresher environment for both staff and patients.”
Bersing emphasized that this project is MultiCare’s way of investing in the community.
“MultiCare is here to stay in Yakima. They’re committed to local care and we’re just really excited to be able to show the final, final project,” Bersing stated.
Currently in phase one, Bersing noted that the project is progressing as planned. They have not observed an increase in patient transfers out of the facility.
