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Last updated 10:08 am CT February 09, 2010.
Hamilton Memorial Hospital Unveiled After Renovation
"This just doesn't look like McLeansboro."
Before the 18.5 million dollar renovation, the hospital had seen only a few upgrades since it was built in 1960.
But today the hospital is considered to be state of the art.
"It's a world class facility, and there's not a community this size in the state of Illinois or in the entire midwest that isn't envious of what we've got right here."
The hospital now boasts an outpatient clinic, five emergency room bays, and a new operating room.
Services the old facility simply didn't have...which forced many patients to go elsewhere.
"By actually increasing the service that we can provide, I think we're going to be able to keep our local people at home, and provide them with up to date state of the art care."
Physician Alec Hood has been practicing medicine in Hamilton County for 27 years.
He hopes the hospital will attract more than just patients.
"I think it will help us to be able to recruit physicians who can practice in a nice, new facility, state of the art, and actually probably increase some of the services that we already provide."
Bob Shuster- chairman of the hospital board says the effort was several years in the making.
And as he cut the ribbon for the newly renovated facility...he couldn't believe it was finally finished.
"It's hard to believe that it come out looking like this, but it's fantastic, and I'm taking this as the greatest day of my life."
By Andy Waterman
awaterman@wsiltv.com
Now: 1265732929
