CRMC 5W Renovation Set To Open December

Work on the renovation of Cookeville Regional’s 5W wing expected to wrap up by the end of August.

CEO Buffy Key said they are hoping to have patients in the new wing in December. Key said the project continues to stay on time and on budget despite recent economic challenges.

“We’re very excited,” Key said. “I think just getting this far, especially with the economy the way that it’s been post-Covid and all of that is just miraculous, and I have to give credit to all of our physicians and our staff for making that happen. They work very hard to keep our budget in line with the way it should be, and so therefore we can progress.”

Key said the project is expected to be completed in August, but they will have to wait for an air handler unit that will not be delivered until November before moving forward. A hospital report said that since the start of July they have connected power to the area, installed a nurse call system, and completed a water line for the booster pump in that section of the facility.

Key said the expansion will smooth operations throughout the hospital by allowing them to handle more overflow.

“Any congestion in the emergency room of not being able to get upstairs into a bed because they’re full, some of that will be relieved,” Key said.

Key said their goal once the project is complete is to continue expanding in various ways that will allow them to better support the community.

In other business, Key said work began last week on the CT room of the hospital’s outpatient imaging center.