By By Kelly Quackenbush/The Meridian Star
March 16, 2001
Dr. William Billups III, chief of surgery for Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center, announced the completion of a surgery department expansion at a press conference Thursday.
During the last 18 months, the former emergency room space was renovated to make six new operating rooms increasing the number of operating rooms to 17.
One of those additions is a special operating room for heart surgeries, the hospital's second.
The expansion also includes two new eye surgery rooms outfitted for microscopic surgery. The remaining rooms will be used for general surgery, ear, nose and throat, maxillofacial, gynecology, orthopedics, urology and plastic surgery.
JARMC averages 40-45 surgery cases a day, a number that has grown steadily over the past two years. The surgery department has seen an overall increase of 200 cases over the past year.
J.W. Jones, first vice president of JARMC, said the surgery department can expect a rise of surgery cases with the designation of the hospital as a trauma unit, increasing the need for surgeons.
The rooms will be completely operational and open for surgery Monday.
Kelly Quackenbush is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail her at kquackenbush@themeridianstar.com.