It’s only been open for six years, but there’s a major renovation project about to take place at United Hospital Center. According to UHC Vice President of Support Services Geoff Marshall, significant work is about to take place at the Cecil B. Highland, Jr. & Barbara B. Highland Cancer Center inside the facility.

 

Marshall said the project will cost $1.1 million. It involves incorporating what was once the private physician space into combined space with the cancer center.

 

“When the hospital was first built, the cancer center was divided into three components … There were also two private physician practices we leased space to; the oncologists,” said Marshall. “Fast forward six years and the oncologists have become employed the hospital.

 

“What this project will do upon completion is bring the cancer center all together,” he continued. “It will serve as one hospital operation.”

 

Marshall said doctors going from private, or independent contractors, to employees of medical facilities is starting to become more the norm. UHC is not an exception.

 

“With the way medicine is changing and developing, we’re seeing more and more employees under the hospital banner,” said Marshall.

 

The main part of the project will involve remodeling the office area and making extra rooms for more efficiency. Instead of two private practices in the cancer center, there will be one big office to help with flow.

 

“The ultimate goal is to improve on the hospital experience by the patient,” said Marshall.

 

The project is going to start in the next few weeks. It should be completed by December 1. Only two contractors bid on the project and Marshall said

 

Two bidders. Marks-Landau Construction, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Landau Building Company that handles the majority of Landau Building Company’s projects in West Virginia, will do the work. Landau Building is based in western Pennsylvania.

 

Marshall is hoping to that the impact on patients and staff will be minimal. In fact, that will be the primary goal.

 

“The work will mostly be done on nights and weekends,” said Marshall. “We’re going to phase the construction and we’ll relocate one of the temporary infusion centers we have right now. We’ll do the infusion center first.”

 

That will lead to some “temporary space” to be utilized. Once the infusion center is done, construction of the new office will begin. Marshall is confident that the finished product will meet the desired goal and needs sought by UHC. Part of that stems from the architect that designed the new hospital will be responsible for the design of the renovation – Gresham, Smith and Partners out of Nashville, Tenn.

 

“It’s more beneficial to have that group come because they design hospital, hospitals and hospitals. That’s their specialty and they know health care,” said Marshall. “In this particular case, they designed our building so they know more about the design of our hospital than anyone.”

 

Bridgeport Community Development Director Randy Spellman recently announced the project at a city meeting. He said that the renovation is a sign that things are working out well for UHC since their move to Bridgeport.

 

“This will be a significant project. You don’t invest that type of money unless you are doing well and are doing it for the enhancement of patient care; and I think it’s safe to say this is for both,” said Spellman. “This is another big project that the hospital has done since they opened in 2010. It’s an active campus and we anticipate additional projects in the future and look forward to working with them.”

 

Spellman is correct. The $1.1 million renovation about to take place isn’t the biggest since the hospital’s relocation and opening six years ago. In April of 2015, UHC opened the $15 million Bruce Carter United Orthopaedic and Spine Center on the main campus.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo show Community Development Director Randy Spellman looking over architectural plans, while a closeup of the plans are shown in the middle. UHC's Geoff Marshall is shown below.