It’s not a $2.3 million project like the United Hospital Eye Clinic, but there’s more investment being done in Bridgeport courtesy of the United Hospital Center. Although not a seven-figure endeavor, work is currently under way at the hospital on a substantial six-figure endeavor.

 

On Jan. 27, a permit was filed with the city for $320,000 for a new catheterization lab at United Hospital Center. Gresham Smith is the architect on that project.

 

“It’s another significant investment by United Hospital Center on their campus and int this community, and they’ve done plenty of them,” said Bridgeport Community Development Director Andrea Kerr, about one of the biggest employers in the area. “They’re going to do renovations on the first and fourth floors soon, too.”

 

While the city is pleased with the new work, it’s not something that came up recently for UHC. In fact, it’s been something that was planned for when the campus relocated to Bridgeport from Clarksburg.

 

“We built the building originally knowing we would have growth in the MRI and Cath lab,” said Geoff Marshall, vice president of support services at UHC. “We built shelf space in the building that was never finished for the purposes of that. The MRI space was done a while back and you fast forward five years and we’ve hit a point where we need to add a third Cath lab.”

 

Marshall said the lab will house a sophisticated x-ray system that shoots in two different directions and that same time. He said it’s done for cardiac imaging as well as vascular imaging.

 

“It’s multi-purpose,” said Marshall. “It’s state-of-the-art equipment.”

 

Marshall said he wasn’t aware of any problems with a wait for testing in the existing Cath labs. However, he said the third one should expedite things at the facility.

 

“I think no matter how you look at this the addition is good news,” said Marshall.

 

Installation of the equipment began last week. Marshall said the work should be finished over a four-week period.

 

“This is certainly more good news for Bridgeport. It’s also good news for the entire region that relies so much on United Hospital Center for healthcare,” said Kerr.

 

Editor's Note: Photos show work taking place in the new Cath lab at UHC.