Groundbreaking for Medical Office Building

Claiborne Progress

January 31, 2007
By W. Lee Brame

Correspondent

With gold painted shovels and a freshly dumped pile of dirt, community leaders gathered at the parking lot of the Claiborne County Hospital Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 24, to celebrate a symbolic groundbreaking for the new medical services office building.

County Mayor Joe Tyler Duncan told the crowd that the complex would be a "tremendous asset for the community" and a sign of "progress and growth."

The 30,000 square feet, three story facility will house the hospital rehabilitation department on the ground floor while the second and third floors will contain physician offices and specialty clinics. The design of the building will permit construction of a flying bridge that will connect the third floor of the new office building directly into the second floor of the hospital. Patients and visitors will easily be able to enter the ground floor lobby from the parking lot while local doctors leasing office space will have convenient access to hospitalized patients and laboratory services.

Three of the community's prominent surgeons, Drs. Rose, Thomas, and Wilmouth have already agreed to lease space in the new complex with several other offices being claimed by specialists.

Duncan congratulated the hospital board and administration for their willingness to take bold steps to continue to improve and modernize hospital services and capabilities. The choice for Claiborne County is either to become a "hub of medical services for the surrounding counties" or to fade into a diminished role as a transit point for Knoxville hospitals.

Hospital Administrator Tim Brown echoed that theme by citing the risks (to critical care patients) and costs to local residents of having to travel to Knoxville for medical services. As Claiborne County and surrounding areas continue to grow with no plans for Highway 33 improvements north of Maynardville, the need for local medical services continues to increase. The successful start of the new medical program at LMU also provides an impetus for continued hospital improvements.

Joe Tyler Duncan, Mayor, Tim Brown, Administrator

Brown also noted that a local financial institution, First Century Bank, also successfully competed for the right to provide construction financing. The competitive rates and willingness of local bankers to support community growth means that more local money stays in the community to support local jobs.

Construction is expected to be completed in January 2008.

Click here for more information about the new building

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