W. G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center - Salisbury, NC

Hospice Ribbon Cutting - Pictured front row, left to right: Dr. Mark Heuser; Michele Hill, RN; Mayor Paul Woodson; Dana Moose, RN; Medical Center Director Kaye Green; Congresswoman Virginia Foxx; Dr. Parag Dalsania; John Montgomery; and Daniel Hoffmann, Network Director, VISN 6.

Wednesday, October 24, was an exciting day for Veterans, staff and the community, as the Salisbury VA Medical Center held two ribbon cuttings for three recently completed projects.

The first ribbon cutting took place in the newly renovated “Main Street” area of Building 42, following a standing room only ceremony celebrating the completion of the projects.  Immediately following the ceremony, another ribbon cutting was held for the new 12-bed hospice unit.

Offering congratulatory remarks were Mayor Paul Woodson from the City of Salisbury, and Congresswoman Virginia Foxx, representing North Carolina’s  5th Congressional District.  Keynote speaker for the event was Daniel F. Hoffmann, FACHE, Director of the VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network (VISN 6).

The event marked the official opening of the Main Street area, the new Hospice Unit and the new 12-bed hoptel. These three projects represent the first phase of the Building 42 Long Term Care Center of Excellence Renovations project.  Construction began November 2010 on this three phase Minor Capital Improvement project to create a Long Term Care Center of Excellence with specialized care sections.

Construction costs for the three projects total $8 million.
•  The new hospice unit features 12 beds with private rooms and private baths.  Construction began in November 2010, and the project was completed in September 2012. 
•  The Main Street project reconfigured the interior of the Building 42 atrium, and features a new Main Street concept with a general store, sidewalk cafe activities, including a ceramics room with a kiln, a 24/7 theatre, complete with popcorn machine, town hall, grand piano, kiosks, and barber shop, the professional landscaping, which includes a pond and waterfall.
•  A newly renovated area in Building 42 features a new 6 bed hoptel, which is located on the ground floor of Building 42. Hoptel temporary lodging is provided as a courtesy to eligible veterans receiving VA health care services, C&P exams, or in connection with C&P exams provided at a VA facility.

 http://www.salisburypost.com/News/102512-VA-ribbon-cutting2012-10-24T21-49-37

http://charlotte.news14.com/content/top_stories/667057/salisbury-hefner-va-medical-center-unveils-latest-renovations

By Salisbury VAMC staff; Photography by Luke Thompson, Medical Media Coordinator