New Heights
Several projects underway at WGH
Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Warren General Hospital Executive Director of Operations Dan Grolemund looks in on progress as a crane from Benchley Cranes of Buffalo works on the replacement of a cooling tower and air handler units on the hospital roof.
Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Excavation can be seen at the Warren General Hospital Cancer Care Center. The work has prepared the way for a new linear acceleration and vault.
Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Warren General Hospital Executive Director of Operations Dan Grolemund looks in on progress as a crane from Benchley Cranes of Buffalo works on the replacement of a cooling tower and air handler units on the hospital roof.
Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Excavation can be seen at the Warren General Hospital Cancer Care Center. The work has prepared the way for a new linear acceleration and vault.
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The crane that could be seen towering over Warren General Hospital this month was a sign of ongoing efforts to renew the facility.
The crane was used in the installation of a new cooling tower and air handler unit for the chiller room.
The old tower was installed in 1996 and had outlived its functional life.
The new system "will allow us to cool our building much more effectively in the hot summer months," according to Executive Director of Operations Dan Grolemund.
That job and its $500,000 price tag is a small portion of the infrastructure work underway and recently completed to at Warren General.
"We have many projects being completed now at Warren General Hospital," Grolemund said.
Upgrades to the Cancer Center, including a new linear accelerator, represent the largest investment.
"At our Cancer Center, we just got a new CT Simulator," Grolemund said. "Also, we have now begun construction of a new linear accelerator vault. The ground was just broken there a couple of weeks ago."
The new accelerator will arrive in March or April and the project is expected to be complete in the summer of 2021, Grolemund said.
That project is expected to come in at about $6 million.
Renovations to the emergency room will begin in the spring.
"In February or March, we will begin renovation of the triage and waiting areas with our Emergency Care Center," Grolemund said.
At the same time, the pediatric department at RehabWorks will be up for renovation.
Preventative maintenance and reinforcement of the parking garage will be done over the summer.
In addition to the cooling tower and air handlers for the chiller, there were several projects completed in recent months and one still in progress.
"In June of 2020, we replaced six air handler units above our operating rooms," Grolemund said. A similar project was finished in December. "Last week, we replaced many of the air handler units at the St. Clair Medical Office Building next to the hospital."
New air handlers have cost the hospital about $1 million.
In September, the hospital upgraded its offerings with 3D mammography equipment. "Through the generosity of our community, we were able to get 3D mammography equipment and renovate our Mammography Suite," he said. That project cost about $500,000.
"The roof above our boiler house was replaced in October," he said.
"A new nurse call system is being installed hospital-wide and will be completed in the next six weeks," Grolemund said. That is another $500,000 project.
"From a financial perspective, we have been able to upgrade our facility through the funds available from our partnership with Allegheny Health Network (AHN) and LECOM," he said. "We're fortunate. It's been a wonderful relationship."
"We have a tremendous commitment to our community," Grolemund said.
"These projects will enhance the comfort, satisfaction, and safety of our patients. Having newer equipment and technology will allow us to provide the highest level of care possible to all of our valued patients."