'Hospital of the Year' celebrates end of construction

  • Published
  • By Sara Vidoni
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The cold weather couldn't dampen spirits as the 96th Medical Group celebrated the completion of their military construction renovation with a ribbon cutting February 19 here.

More than 50 people gathered in the Eglin Hospital parking lot to commemorate the massive undertaking which broke ground in June 2012. The renovation covered more than 145,000 square feet of space and included more than 35 moves over two and half years. 

Brig. Gen. Lee Payne, commander of the Air Force Medical Operations Agency, was on hand to provide opening remarks.

"It's my pleasure to be here today to support the best hospital in the United States Air Force," said Payne, referring to Eglin's recent selection as the Air Force Surgeon General's Best Hospital of the Year. "This project took 36 months, cost $68 million and included 37 phases, yet remarkably, Eglin Hospital has been able to continue healthcare operations throughout all of that. That's not easy to do."

Despite the many transitions and renovations, the 96th Medical Group had the top ranking Air Force operating room in general surgery, orthopedics, ENT and urology with a 34 percent surge in cases last year. They were the second busiest labor and delivery floor with more than 750 births, the second busiest emergency department with approximately 32,000 visits and graduated more than 400 students from training and residency programs.

"Eglin is the 2014 Air Force Best Hospital of the Year, because of the quality healthcare that is provided in this facility," said Col. Gianna Zeh, commander of the 96th Medical Group. "Our leaders are trusted and our staff is willing to report and have patient safety as a foundation for all care. We are humbled, proud and excited that we got recognized."

The completion of the military construction project provides opportunity for growth and an increase in capabilities, according to Zeh. 

The major renovations included:
  • a new emergency department with modernized exam and treatment rooms and a more accessible entrance
  • a LEED-certified aerospace medicine squadron annex building to house flight medicine, outpatient records and public health
  • a new location for the specialty clinics on the third floor, which included new service lines such as enhanced infusion and dialysis
  • new customer service counters for the lab and pharmacy as well as a remodeled lobby featuring a grand staircase
  • an updated and relocated physical medicine and occupational therapy section
  • the addition of a hybrid operating room and a new, modernized operating room with expanded surgical capability that allows additional vascular and neurological procedures
  • expansion of the minor procedure suite with four endoscopy rooms and eight recovery bays
  • the relocation of the pediatrics clinic to the second floor to create a comprehensive mother and baby center of excellence
  • a new command section building

"This project was first and foremost for our patients," said Zeh, during her closing remarks at the ceremony. "Our patients walked this event with us for the past two and half years, diverting through many back hallways. We thank our patients for putting up with us throughout this construction project. This was a great opportunity for growing our capability in order to provide quality healthcare."