Celebrating an expansion

BASIN – The South Big Horn County Hospital between Basin and Greybull welcomed people from all over the state and country Friday morning for their expansion grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Representatives from the U.S.D.A. (United States Department of Agriculture), Wyoming Governor Matt Mead, former and current Wyoming legislators and members of the community braved the high winds and smoke from the wildfires in Fort McMurray, Canada to celebrate the expansion, meet those responsible and tour the new facility.

The South Big Horn County Hospital expansion celebrated the completion of the second phase of a five phase improvement plan. The first phase was to renovate the laboratory and radiology, which was completed in 2010. The second phase was to renovate the storage, dietary, inpatient services and emergency room.

"It's been a long journey, five years ago we completed the imagery department and now we have completed the inpatient department, the emergency department, the kitchen and storage," South Big Horn County Hospital Board chairman Jeff Grant said.

The second phase of the project cost nearly $10 million, and was paid through $2.2 million from hospital funds, a $3.9 million loan from the U.S.D.A., $2.9 million grant from the State Loan and Investment Board and $150,000 from the Big Horn County consensus block grant. "This expansion was made possible using district monies, tax monies, state monies and money from the U.S.D.A," Grant said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Wyoming Governor Matt Mead stated, "Think about this facility, the expansion made this facility better and a wonderful asset to the community members, people traveling and economic development. It was made possible by the grit and determination of the community and the hospital board, with their 'never say die and never give up', Wyoming attitude."

USDA Rural Housing Service Administrator Tony Hernandez said, "The $3.9 million is not just about medicine, it's an investment, in the people, jobs and health care."

The third phase of the project will entail the clinic addition. Phase four will be the abate and demolition of the existing hospital and the fifth phase will be the addition for the administration offices, physical therapy, new main entrance and a reception area.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony the efforts of Jackie Claudson, before her illness, were recognized. "Jackie Claudson, CEO for 20 years played a huge part in the vision getting us to where we are today. This wouldn't have happened without her vision," Grant stated. Claudson was unable to attend the event as she is recovering in Denver, Colorado.

The South Big Horn Hospital ribbon cutting was not your typical ribbon cutting. The "ribbon" was eight strands, because there were so many people critical to the completion of the expansion. Each strand was cut by a different person, each having a hand in some way, to the completion of the work.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, a statue of "The Lady with the Lamp" depicting Florence Nightingale was revealed. The statue was gifted to the nurses of the hospital by Dr. David Fairbanks and his wife Carol. With Friday being National Nurse's Day, it was the perfect day to unveil the statue, Fairbanks said.