Construction work on new hospital wing nears end

At least eight major offices and departments will soon occupy the bigger and newer public health facility in the CNMI, which is bigger than the current hospital center, the Department of Public Health said.

DPH Secretary James U. Hofschneider said the new facility would house not only the new Hemodialysis Unit but also an Adult Clinic, Tuberculosis clinic, Obstetrician and Gynecologist Clinic, and a children’s clinic, among others. Administrative offices would include medical supply rooms, electrical and mechanical, reverse osmosis, communications and others.

Hofschneider said the new facility would have an independent power generation and air-ventilation system.

In a media release yesterday, DPH said that construction work on the project is almost finished. The new building will have a space that is nearly twice the size of the Commonwealth Health Center.

The new center is a Capital Improvement Project supported by both federal and local funding, including the $5.8 million that was recently appropriated by the 14th CNMI Legislature.

The old CHC building was constructed at a cost of approximately $27 million in the early ‘80s. It was designed to accommodate only 35,000 people.

DPH said the new building is truly welcome as CHC has been the only full-service health care facility in the entire CNMI now serving a population of over 70,000 residents and guests.

Hofschneider said the new facility will meet a longstanding need for expansion of the health center and would allow the CNMI to better meet current and future public health needs of the entire community.

He said he is very happy to let the public know that this month will mark the completion of the concrete structure of the facility. The interior and major finishing work will be completed by summer of 2006.

One benefit of the new facility, said Hofschneider, is the convenience that will be afforded patients by the new and bigger Hemodialysis Unit. He said the current number of hemodialysis patients would be able to receive treatment at reasonable hours of the day, instead of waiting for their turn in the middle of the night.

The facility, which was originally designed by Leo A. Daly, had an estimated cost of $5.7 million but reached $17.5 million due to revisions and change orders on the design, particularly the expansion of the parking lot to 220 spaces and upgrading of the water system.

The new center will have a completed lower floor, equipment and furniture, and biohazard improvements following the 9/11 terror attack.

Hofschneider said this month’s completion of the structure will be marked by a “topping-off” ceremony, a tradition in the construction industry that stems from ancient time and remains an important symbol of teamwork, quality, craftsmanship and luck for the future.