McLeod Health Cheraw mother and daughter employees, Jacqui Clarke, RN, Infection Control/Employee Health and Hadley Clarke, Cardiac Rehabilitation, sign the final beam for the Emergency Department expansion on October 2.

McLeod Health Cheraw staff gathered at the site of the Emergency Department expansion on October 3 to sign the final steel beam before it was hoisted into place. Placement of the final beam signifies the completion of the steel construction phase of the facility.

Mib Scoggins, Hospital Administrator for McLeod Health Cheraw, remarked during the festivities, “The signing of this beam today is a symbol of the teamwork that it takes to bring great healthcare services to our communities and it is like having our own time capsule for years to come.”

As populations grow in Chesterfield, Marlboro and the surrounding communities that the current Emergency Department serves, so do the healthcare needs of residents. For this reason, McLeod Health Cheraw is expanding its Emergency Department.

“We are proud to work with McLeod Health Cheraw to provide an enhanced facility to these great communities,” said Lee Baber, Sr., Superintendent of Samet Corporation, the construction company that is handling the expansion project.

The current Emergency Department (ED) at McLeod Health Cheraw was originally designed to serve between 8,000 to 10,000 per year. In 2016, the ED staff cared for nearly 22,000 patients. The patient census of the McLeod Health Cheraw Emergency Department has continually increased over the last few years. These numbers substantiate the need for growth.

The new, 23-bed Emergency Department will be designed to serve 25,000 patients per year. All rooms will be fully private, and capable for emergency department care. Two of these rooms will be dedicated to advanced resuscitation of critical patients, while four will provide safe and comfortable holding for psychiatric patients.

The estimated date of completion is May 2018. The project will add 7,690 square feet to the facility with the completed expansion of the new Emergency Department.

Participants in the event responded with enthusiasm during these historic activities, underscoring the growth of McLeod services in the region.