Groundbreaking held for new Tuba City medical building

Vernon Rosamond (left) from Johnson Smitthipong & Rosamond Inc. and Joseph Engelken, TCRHCC CEO, speak about the new medical building.

Vernon Rosamond (left) from Johnson Smitthipong & Rosamond Inc. and Joseph Engelken, TCRHCC CEO, speak about the new medical building.

TUBA CITY, Ariz. - The groundbreaking ceremony for the Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation's (TCRHCC) construction of a new modular Medical Office Building was held Dec. 2. The ceremony marks the beginning of the TCRHCC Clinic expansion project to address the growing and changing health care needs of the community.

TCRHCC Board of Directors, clinical, administrative and support staff with Johnson Smitthipong & Rosamond (JSR) Architects, Eastern Style Builders (ESB) gathered together at the TCRHCC campus in Tuba City to witness the ground breaking ceremony.

TCRHCC board president, Grey Farrell Sr., gave opening remarks followed by a speech given by eight of the board members expressing the hard work and commitment TCRHCC staff has put in for the community.

The 33,700-square-foot, three-story building will be on the TCRHCC campus immediately next to the hospital. The first floor will house an expanded area for the Comprehensive Diabetes Program, Outpatient Pharmacy with a convenient Drive-Up window, and Patient Registration in the main lobby.

On the second floor, there will be an expanded footage for the current Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Walk In Clinics. The Obstetrical and Gynecological Clinic (Women's Clinic) and Pediatric Clinic will be housed on the third floor.

"The ceremonious shoveling of earth symbolizes the vision for the community - to build an integrated health care campus for our community and patients," said Farrell. He said, "This ... marks a truly momentous day for TCRHCC Hospital and the entire community."

Clinic construction will begin in mid December and is expected to be completed by fall of 2010. The expansion will provide improved patient access to health care services.

"This project will address future needs for both clinic and hospital patients, as well as provide a better working environment for our staff," stated Joe Engelken, TCRHCC Chief Executive Officer. "We're committed to keeping the needs of our patients first and providing them with excellent medical care."

"The new expanded services are only one of many improvements that we see in the future that is coming to fruition. Our staff has worked hard as a team to make it to this day, and we are very proud of moving forward in our progress to fulfill our mission to our community," said Lynette Bonar, Chief of Support Services.

"At TCRHCC, we are implementing state-of-the-art project management knowledge, the first of its kind in Self Determination pursuits, to assist in achieving projects success," said Bryan L. Tsosie, TCRHCC Facilities Director. He said, "While adding new facilities to our infrastructure, we foresee beautiful growth while balancing and managing cost, schedule, and scope. This methodology builds collaboration and teamwork."

With the construction starting this month, Tsosie emphasized, "Any life safety and safety measures will be a priority and established to accommodate patients and for the construction site."

At the request of the TCRHCC Facility and Safety Management, the Patient Parking and Drop-Off south of the medical center will be shut down in mid-December. The purpose of the full closure is to provide public safety during the construction. The parking lot closure will accommodate construction activity that requires the full use of the area in the parking lot.

To accommodate the closure, Parking Lot 11, previously designated for patient use, will be converted to a staff/patient parking lot. The parking area is located on the east side of campus at the Refill Pharmacy trailer. Night staff are encouraged to use Lots 9 and 10 as construction begins. The parking area is located on the north and east side of campus, near Adult ICU and Pediatric ICU.

Patient and visitor parking will be available in Lots 2 and 3, near the loop roadway, east of the Tuba City Wellness Center. To ensure safety and public access, there will be a walk-away created from Lot 2 to the south entrance of the TCRHCC medical center.

Due to upcoming construction project, no parking or drop-off is permitted along the south side of the TCRHCC medical center building. All temporary parking and drop off will be closed as a result of the construction site.

A new parking lot is under construction located south of the construction site on South Pine Street. This lot should be open soon. Staff and patient signs will be designated in the new parking lot.

For updates and information, check on-line at tchealth.org or call (928) 283-2993 for the latest information.

Attendees of the groundbreaking ceremony included Joe Engelken, CEO; Grey Farrell Sr., TCRHCC Board President; Regina Allison, TCRHCC Board Member; Geraldine Goldtooth, TCRHCC Board Member; Ether Tsinigine, TCRHCC Board Member; Delsine Nez, TCRHCC Board Treasurer; Alan Numkema, TCRHCC Board Member; Lynette Bonar, Chief of Support Services; Alan Spacone, Chief Medical Officer, Alvina Rosales, Chief Nursing Officer, John Pemberton, HR Director, Cliff Olsson, Chief Financial Officer, Randall Coffey, M.D.; Johnson Smitthipong & Rosamond (JSR) Architects, Eastern Style Builders (ESB) and clinical, administrative and support staff.

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