NARMC Opens Patient Tower

North Arkansas Regional Medical Center in Harrison recently completed a 124,000-SF, $25 million patient tower.

The new structure will add 71 new private patient rooms, a women’s center with a nursery and birthing suites, an employee health and wellness center, a rehabilitation center and a new ICU. Four large rooms have also been set aside for future needs.

Nabholz Construction was the general contractor for the project, and broke ground in June 2005. A grand opening ceremony was hosted in late April, and state inspectors are expected to grant approval for the facility to open very soon, said Christy Hawkins, a spokeswoman for NARMC. Though Harrison has a population of about 13,000, the facility will serve about 80,000 people in the city and the surrounding areas.

Wireless Internet is available throughout the waiting areas, there are two private and two public elevators and a large atrium greets visitors. Coffee kiosks are available throughout the building.

Patient rooms come with flat-screen televisions and are decorated with artwork by photographer Tim Ernst.

Alcoves outside the patient rooms will house nursing stations with computers, so patients’ charts can be examined easily. The hospital plans for its records to be paperless within three years, according to a press release.

The nursery can accommodate up to 12 infants, while each birthing suite can accommodate two infants, for a total of 28 infants that could be supported, according to the release.