By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Eighteen hard-hat-capped shovels stood at attention in the loose dirt as members from Med Center Health and Barren Inc. gathered with county and city officials for the official groundbreaking of Glasgow’s latest healthcare facility.
Located between the bustling S.L. Rogers Wells Blvd. and the residential road of Georgetown Lane, loose brown-orange dirt provides hints at the work that will soon begin on the new Med Center Health building.
According to a press release sent by the healthcare provider, and confirmed by Wade Stone, executive vice president of Med Center Health, the design for the building was done in partnership with Scott, Murphy and Daniel and Stengel Hill Architecture and will be 22,000 square feet that will feature primary care, specialty care and be an “outpatient diagnostic imaging center, which will offer radiology, ultrasound, mammography, nuclear medicine CT and MRIs.”
That idea of expanding care and making it more easily accessible quickly became the theme during the eighteen-and-a-half minute groundbreaking as Stone explained that “more than half of the patients” seen by Med Center Health come from outside Warren County, where Med Center’s main campus is located.
“This is a huge day for Med Center Health,” Stone said. “But more importantly it’s a big day for the residents of Glasgow [and] Barren County. The building that will go up will no doubt further [our] mission of improving the quality of life for residents of Barren County and beyond.”
“Transportation is often one of the biggest obstacles to patients to receive timely care…it’s going to be nice to be able to get specialty care in Glasgow,” Stone added.
Paul Moore, a Cardiothoracic surgeon who will be at the new facility at least once a week, echoed Stone’s assertion that this new addition will make healthcare more convenient.
“We have a number of patients that come from here, not just from Barren County but Adair County, Clinton County, Monroe County [and] this seems to be a central location they can all get to easily,” Moore said. “I’m at the point now where I want to get out and see the patients who really need access and the care I can give that’s not given locally and that’s really important.”
Stone said in addition to specialists like Moore the building would also house three to four primary care providers. Stone also added that the specialty list, which the press release currently lists as Cardiothoracic Surgery, Vascular Surgery, ENT, Hematology/Oncology, Neurosurgery, Urology and Orthopaedics/Sports Medicine, may expand depending on need.
Construction on the new building is expected to be finished by Spring 2025.
Eighteen silver shovels with white hard hats perched on top stood ready as the ceremony begun under a white Med Center Health canopy nearby. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
Executive Vice President Wade Stone addressed the ceremony attendees before the groundbreaking saying this facility will make it easier for Barren Countians to get quick, convenient care. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1..
As the remarks were given many attendees opted to stand along the edges of the white tents as they listened to Stone. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
According to Executive Vice President Wade Stone this is the first stand alone facility Med Center Health has had in Glasgow. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
Stone said as soon as the ceremony concluded work would begin on the new facility, which is excepted to be completed in spring 2025. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1.
