Groundbreaking held for West Tennessee Healthcare Bolivar Hospital
HARDEMAN COUNTY, Tenn. — One community is working to increase healthcare access for rural residents with a new and improved hospital.
“We are very excited that West Tennessee Healthcare is making the investment in this community, and that our leadership and the whole community has come together to make this happen,” said Ruby Kirby, CEO, Bolivar & Camden Hospital.
Monday morning, local and healthcare officials celebrated the groundbreaking of the new West Tennessee Healthcare Bolivar Hospital. It’s designed to bring modern care and updated services across the region.
“Everything is located strategically in the hospital, so it’s easier to get to our patient population,” Kirby said.
This roughly $26 million project is partially funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. And while the City of Bolivar donated the land, West Tennessee Healthcare funded the rest at approximately 16 to 17 million.
“It’s very important to have a hospital that can also serve outpatient needs, not just the emergency room and inpatient services in a community,” said Tina Prescott, President & CEO of West Tennessee Healthcare. “It lessens the drive for people if they need lab, radiology, some pharmacy services. And one of the services that we feel is vital to Hardeman County is cardiac rehab.”
The new hospital will be located on Highway 64, and Prescott says it will give rural residents the same quality access to emergency services as their other communities.
“So, new rooms, expanded number of rooms. There will be 12 emergency rooms here, and that allows us to decrease our wait times in our ERs and also improve the time, the quality of care that we’re giving. We’re getting to those patients faster,” Prescott said.
While there is some concern for rural hospitals funding in the state, Prescott assures us they have planned for a financially sustainable model that will ensure care for Hardeman County for years to come.
The new hospital is anticipated to be a 15-month process, with hopes of opening by the end of 2026.
Click here to read the full press release from West Tennessee Healthcare.
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