Facility and Security Update
Jennifer Opsut
COO
Security Updates
Safety and security continues to be a high priority at WVMC, particularly ensuring the security of restricted areas for the comfort and protection of our patients, visitors, physicians and staff. Unfortunately, we had some abuse of the keypads that exposed some concerning security risks. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but appreciate your understanding. In an effort to maintain the security and safety of our facility, all staff and providers need to have their ID badge for identification and to enter any secured areas. Keypads are no longer available to use in lieu of badges. If for some reason you don’t have your badge and need to enter a secure unit (like FMC), please access via the general entrance and buzz in with staff.
Additional Badge Access Changes
- Transfers, Direct Admits, Health & Welfare DE – All will need to enter through the main entrance or ER main entrance and contact Security or the House Supervisor to escort them through the building.
- Funeral Homes – Should continue their process of contacting Security and/or the House Supervisor to enter through the Plant Operations dock and be escorted through the building.
- MHU Court Dates – Should enter and exit through either the Plant Operations dock entrance or the ER Ambulance bay for the privacy of the patient.
- Prisoners – Should enter through the ER ambulance bay or Plant Operations dock entrance only.
- Med Rooms/ POU – Access has been granted to only those employees who need access.
- Areas w/Secured Doors – BHU, Cath Lab, OR, FMC, C-Section suite, Radiology, Nursery.
To report any security or safety concerns, badge access questions and/or any incidents, please contact Wayne Tuckness, safety and security officer (SSO), at (208) 455-3823 or wayne.tuckness@hcahealthcare.com.
Facility Updates
West Valley has been under near-constant construction over the past three years, although I’m sure this comes as no surprise to you. We recently compiled a summary of these major capital improvements, expansions and equipment investments — totaling more than $23 million — and we thought we’d share with you where we’ve been and where we are now. Here are some highlights:
- West Valley Medical Complex: West Valley partnered with the Gardner Company to construct a 4-story, 91,500-square-foot medical office building — the tallest in Caldwell — near the hospital campus at 1906 Fairview Ave. This project was completed in December 2013. West Valley invested about $2.2 million in the new space.
- Surgical Services Expansion – Phase 1: West Valley added 2,771 square feet to its existing surgical department for a new pre-operative Day Surgery Unit and recovery room for post-operative patients. The hospital also renovated 5,755 square feet of space to accommodate a fifth operating room. The total costs for this project were about $6.25 million. Construction began in March 2015 and was completed in April 2016. The hospital partnered with Gould Turner Group for architectural services; Batten and Shaw Construction Management served as contractor.
- Surgical Services Expansion – Phase 2: A renovation will begin in the third quarter of 2016 to fully renovate and further expand the surgical department by adding additional OR space and support area, bringing the total number of operating rooms to six. The total investment is estimated to be more than $8 million. Project completion is anticipated in 2018. Gould Turner Group will continue to provide architectural services; Robins & Morton will serve as contractor.
- Cardiac Catheterization Lab: West Valley’s new electrophysiology cardiac catheterization lab — the first of its kind in Canyon County — added 4,700 square feet to the previous catheterization suite. The project also upgraded X-ray and 3-D mapping equipment to provide highly accurate images of the heart and major vessels. The total investment was about $3.2 million. Construction began in November 2014 and was completed in December 2015. The hospital partnered with Lombard-Conrad Architects for architectural services; Contractors Northwest Inc. served as contractor.
- MRI: West Valley invested approximately $2 million for new state-of-the-art technology and an expansion of its MRI services. The project renovated 700 square feet of existing space and added another 1,200 square feet. Construction was completed in September 2016. The hospital partnered with Babcock Design Group; Engineered Structures Inc. served as contractor.