WINCHESTER, Ky. — Clark Regional Medical Center broke ground on expanding the intensive care unit (ICU). The expansion signifies a 75% increase in capacity for the ICU, adding six beds to the eight currently available. The new construction also includes build-out space for a new surgical suite, enabling Clark Regional to expand surgery as the needs of the community demand.
“We’re really excited about this growth and what it means for not only Winchester but also for other communities in our area,” said Matt Smith, CEO of Clark Regional Medical Center. “When you nearly double the capacity of higher-level care, it steps up both the number and the type of patient you can keep right here, close to home.”
The $4 million expansion will allow more patients to stay in the community rather than have to be transferred to Lexington or other hospitals.
“This expansion means that more of the patients who come into our Emergency Department are going to find the care they need at Clark Regional,” said Dr. Bruce Kostelnik, medical director for the emergency department at CRMC. “Having that space means they are also more quickly able to access the level of care they need, rather than having the waits or delays that sometimes occur when we have to transfer a patient.”
The ceremonial groundbreaking was held on the expansion site, where construction is already underway, with an anticipated open date of March 2024. “We’re providing not only care that is close to home and convenient, but it’s also high-quality,” said Dr. Twana Hatton, chair of the medicine department. “We were one of only four hospitals in the state to receive a Leapfrog grade of A—one of many metrics that shows the kind of quality we’re able to provide here.”
