Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital campus progress FAQs

Sentara Halifax Regional Hospital has been serving Halifax County and the surrounding communities since 1953. The current hospital building was built for a healthcare system that existed 70 years ago. While it has served the community well, Sentara believes our community and our patients deserve healthcare that meets the standards of the 21st century.

The new hospital will allow Sentara to boost its clinical capabilities, implement innovative technologies to meet the evolving needs of its patients, and enhance the overall patient experience for the entire region.

The new hospital rooms will feature new, efficient layouts that make it easier for providers to navigate and provide care to our patients. Each patient room will have a window for natural sunlight, a private bathroom, and accommodations to allow for overnight guest stays. We even added small windows that look into the nurses’ station so patients don't need to be disturbed unnecessarily.

We know a hospital visit is not always connected to happy moments in our lives. But, when our patients and visitors need a place to reflect or get some fresh air, the healing garden will still be part of the campus to continue to provide that calming space. This is part of our commitment to patient-focused care for the Halifax community.

Our website at Sentara.com/HalifaxHospitalProgress features renderings of the new hospital rooms.

The cornerstone of any thriving community is the health and well-being of its people. As the largest private employer in Halifax County, we recognize our responsibility to the community and the region.

The new hospital is being built to meet our community's current and future healthcare needs. Our goal is to be sustainable in the long run, and we are building a top-tier hospital with the capacity to expand services as local demand dictates.

Project updates and materials will be shared on our website at Sentara.com/HalifaxHospitalProgress.

We are investing more than $107 million to build a new acute care hospital that will ensure the Halifax region has access to a top-tier hospital. This investment is about much more than medicine; it's about molding a healthier, stronger community where every individual can thrive.

Construction will begin in the fall of 2024, with completion targeted for the summer of 2026.

We are developing a new acute care hospital to meet our community’s healthcare needs in the 21st century. The existing hospital building will be cleared to allow access to the new hospital, the addition of the new helipad, and future hospital and campus expansion. The new hospital is designed to expand as local demand dictates, ensuring it adapts alongside the community’s evolving needs.

The healing garden is an iconic part of our hospital campus and serves as a comfort to many of our patients. To ensure it continues to do so for decades to come, it will be moved to another section of the campus.

Due to construction, some of the trees on our campus will have to be relocated, and additional trees will be planted. While this is not our ideal scenario, we’re exploring options for repurposing these symbolic giants and bringing them back to the community. Stay tuned for future updates.

On-site parking will continue. However, preferred routes may not be available, and we will encourage patients to allow time to arrive at appointments.

The construction workers will have designated parking areas on the current hospital campus.

Trucks will primarily use Hamilton Boulevard and Oak Lane haul debris and materials to and from the site.

The safety of our patients and employees is our top priority. During the demolition and construction phase of the new hospital, we will have extensive signage to help reroute patient and visitor traffic, and construction crews will have specific routes.

Ensuring safety during the construction process involves several critical measures tailored to protect both the workers on site and the people who use or live near the hospital campus. Here are key safety measures typically implemented during a construction project:

1. Safety Planning: A comprehensive safety plan is always developed before starting any work. This plan addresses potential hazards specific to the project and outlines procedures and controls to mitigate them.
2. Training and Awareness: All workers receive training on safety practices relevant to their tasks, including how to use tools and equipment safely. Regular safety meetings and briefings keep safety at the forefront of everyone’s mind.
3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Providing and enforcing the use of appropriate PPE, such as helmets, goggles, gloves, and ear protection, helps prevent injuries from falls, flying debris, noise, and other hazards.
4. Dust and Debris Control: Using dust barriers and ensuring proper ventilation minimizes airborne particulates that could harm workers or contaminate other areas. Regular cleanup and debris removal helps maintain a safe working environment.
5. Signage and Barriers: Clearly marked signage and physical barriers keep unauthorized persons out of hazardous areas, reducing the risk of accidents.
6. Tool and Equipment Maintenance: Regular maintenance of tools and equipment ensures they operate safely and efficiently, reducing the risk of malfunctions that could lead to accidents.
7. Emergency Preparedness: Clear procedures for emergencies, including medical incidents, fires, or structural failures, are essential. This includes accessible first-aid kits, fire extinguishers, and emergency contact information.
8. Compliance with Regulations: We adhere to all local, state, and federal safety regulations and building codes, which is critical to a safe environment for all. This involves permits, inspections, and audits to ensure compliance with safety standards.
9. Monitoring and Supervision: The team will continuously monitor and supervise to ensure that safety protocols are followed.
10. Communication: Effective communication among all team members about safety concerns, changes in the plan, or observed risks will prevent accidents and ensure that everyone is aware of their roles in maintaining safety.

Implementing these measures creates a safer construction environment, protecting everyone involved and ensuring the project progresses smoothly and safely.

The project is being privately financed, with no local tax subsidies. Total funding is expected to exceed $107 million.

A comprehensive range of healthcare services will be available at the new acute care hospital, including general surgical services, intensive care, inpatient treatment, additional observation beds, an emergency department, catheterization lab, operating rooms, a procedural room, imaging services, a laboratory, pathology, pharmacy, rehabilitation, respiratory therapy, and several other support departments.

The hospital will be constructed on the current campus, treating patients holistically and using innovative technologies to cater to evolving patient needs.

The upgraded hospital will enhance the overall patient experience and can expand to accommodate more patients as demand requires. The campus will also include a new helipad on site that will provide faster access to critical emergency care services and improve transport times.

Current services will not be affected. The Halifax region can expect the same level of service and commitment to patient well-being that Sentara provides today.

This new acute care hospital will be a hub of comprehensive healthcare services, including anesthesiology, behavioral health, cardiology, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, critical care, dentistry, dialysis, emergency medicine, endocrinology, family medicine, gastroenterology, general surgery, gynecology, hematology/oncology, home health, hospice, infectious disease, infusion services, internal medicine, laboratory, nephrology, occupational medicine, orthopedics, pathology, pediatrics, inpatient pharmacy, pulmonology, radiology, rehabilitation, respiratory therapy, and sleep study.

One of our goals in building a new acute care hospital for patients is to continue retaining and recruiting high-quality clinicians and medical professionals to serve the Halifax region. We’re committed to ensuring continuing coverage for all our patients so there are no gaps in care as we work to bring the best of the best in the medical field directly to the Halifax region.

We do not anticipate an increase in costs for our patients.

The new campus will allow us to better care for patients and quickly get them the care they need. This means less time spent in the waiting room and more time with medical professionals. We’ll be able to get patients back home with their families faster.

When it comes to an emergency, seconds can matter. We are continually working to improve our emergency services and patient outcomes. That’s why we’re continuing to support local EMS agencies in sustaining and expanding ambulance services in the region. The new hospital campus will have a helipad that will greatly improve transport times for severe cases, which can be critical in life-threatening situations.

Our clinicians have expressed excitement about working in a new building.

When planning this new hospital, we wanted to make sure the space was fit to do the job at hand. We set up mock rooms for staff to see and get the feel of how the new space would work in practice and made changes based on their feedback. No element was too small to take into account - from the placement of medical supplies to moving the computer location from the foot of the bed to the head to ease the tracking of care provided to the patient, the team helped us think through it all.

The most up-to-date information about the new hospital project can be found online at Sentara.com/HalifaxHospitalProgress.