Former Abbeville County Memorial Hospital Unveils New Name

Years of careful planning and construction culminated August 1 when patients moved into the area’s first new hospital in four decades, the innovative Abbeville Area Medical Center (AAMC) on Thomson Circle just behind the former hospital. As part of the debut, the former Abbeville County Memorial Hospital takes on a new identity.
The $13.7 million, 25-bed critical access facility is based on a groundbreaking design unlike anything else in the Southeast for its size, according to its architects and builders, GMK Associates.

AAMC is custom-designed to speed patient care and recovery. Nurses are closer and even more available to patients. Wireless monitoring allows caregivers to check on patients anywhere in the medical center. All patient suites are larger, private and better equipped. Computerized diagnostics can transmit test results directly to flat-panel monitors inside state-of-the-art surgical suites.

“This facility has literally been tailor-made to meet the healthcare needs of our community for the best possible patient care and work environment,” said CEO Alvin Hoover.

To reflect the significant changes in facility, design and patient care, AAMC transitions to a new name, look and website address. The new name represents the medical center’s commitment to patients throughout the entire Abbeville area.

“We’re doing more than building on a 87-year history of community healthcare -- it’s a completely new approach. This medical center represents a great new era for us,” said Hoover.

Construction began on AAMC in August 2004 and finished under budget and two months ahead of schedule. The design of the hospital represents the collaboration and expertise of dozens of physicians, nurses, technicians, community leaders and medical facility developers, said Hoover.

Key features include:
· State-of-the-art surgical suites for advanced procedures
· Large, all-private patient suites with flat-panel TVs and bedside sleeper chairs
· Expanded emergency department
· Outpatient surgery center for easy access, more personal care, reduced wait time
· 16-slice CT scanner, fully digital radiology and computerized laboratory for faster, more accurate diagnostics and test results
· County’s first labor/delivery/recovery/post partum (LDRP) suites for new mothers
· New, modern nursery
· 2 sleep study suites with home-like atmosphere
· Specialized areas for neuro-diagnostics, inpatient physical therapy and stress testing
· Community wellness center
· Tobacco-free campus

The new hospital is based on an innovative floor plan that groups all patient care and clinical services such as patient suites, diagnostics, surgery and enhanced emergency care in one area for better care and easier navigation. Major support departments and administration are in a second area connected by an enclosed hallway.

New, larger surgical suites allow for more advanced inpatient and outpatient procedures along with pre-operative and recovery beds all in one area. The same team-centered caregivers guide patients through the entire process.

The new facility includes new technology designed to enhance patient care. The emergency department boasts a new 16-slice CT scanner and computerized lab for faster results. A state-of-the-art Picture Archive and Communication System (PACS) provides medical staff with digital images of CT scans, MRI, X-rays and other test results within minutes – including directly into the surgical suites via flat-panel monitors. Caregivers use wireless telemetry monitoring to check on heart patients, even as they move between rooms.

The new medical center campus also is entirely tobacco-free, marking a first in Abbeville area history. AAMC is following a growing trend among hospital systems nationwide that note the increased benefits of a tobacco and smoke-free environment for patient recovery, visitors and staff.