North Alabama Medical Center prepares to move existing facility
Construction is finishing up at North Alabama Medical Center, and the new facility is almost ready for patients to move in. The one-day moving plan is in place to transport operations from the existing location, Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital at South Marengo Street to NAMC’s location on Veterans Drive, set for Dec. 6.
Hospital leaders have been planning the move for about a year, creating a detailed process to ensure the move is seamless.
Move manuals have been created for managers and directors at NAMC to follow, informing everyone of their specific roles and responsibilities on the day of the move.
Simulated moves will take place before Dec. 6 to identify areas in the plan that might need improvement. Table-top drills have already begun to assist managers and directors in preparation for the move.
Dec. 6, 30 ambulances will assist in transporting patients, starting at 8 a.m.
“Along with patients, we’ll also be transporting some equipment on move day. Over the past five years, we’ve made capital investments of $5-6 million each year. Most all of the equipment we purchased is on wheels, like beds and IV poles, because we knew we were going to make the move to NAMC,” said Mike Howard, chief operating officer at North Alabama Medical Center. “Each item will be tagged at ECM Hospital with the exact location it will be taken to at North Alabama Medical Center. This entire process is carefully orchestrated and dictated.”
Prior to the move, each manager is responsible for training their staff on the general layout of the new hospital, as well as entrances, parking, where to clock in and where supplies will be located. Individual training on all new equipment will also begin prior to the move.
“Dec. 6, ECM Hospital will be fully staffed, and small teams will be staffed at NAMC. As a nurse’s patients are loaded into an ambulance at ECM Hospital, the nurse will drive to NAMC and be prepared to receive their patients,” said Howard.
On move day, managers will be manning a command center at each facility in order to keep track of every patient and employee. Once everyone is out of the building, hospital administration will do a final walkthrough, then lock the doors to Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital.
North Alabama Medical Center looks forward to a smooth process and an exciting opening day, when world-class care will be available to the Shoals in the most technologically advanced facility the area has ever had.
The existing Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital has served the region since 1919. In that time, it has grown into the largest, most comprehensive medical facility in Northwest Alabama, South Central Tennessee and Northeast Mississippi. The 200+ physicians on staff represent more than 42 specialty areas of medicine, alongside a facility that offers the community’s only open-heart surgery site; a complete line of women’s and children’s services; and a complete line of medical, pulmonary, ambulatory, endoscopy, laboratory and imaging services.
