LAURINBURG — The Scotland Memorial Foundation announced the public phase of its capital plan to renovate the Women’s Center at Scotland Memorial Hospital.

Administrators, doctors, nurses, and staff of Scotland Health Care System, as well as members of the community gathered in the W.R. Dulin Conference Center on the hospital’s campus to celebrate the proposed expansion to the Women’s Center.

Currently the campaign — The Future Starts Here — has received $1,134,762 in pledges for the renovation, through contributions from the community, employees, grants, and the health care system’s board. There have been nearly 350 individual donations. The campaign hopes to raise $1.25 million in total.

Pat and Reg Poteat of Poteat Hospitality serve as capital campaign co-chairs.

“The hospitality and healthcare business are guided by the same overarching principle —- The customer and patient experience must be outstanding,” Pat Poteat said. “That’s what this campaign is all about.”

Renovations for the center started in early 2017 and will be completed by the end of the year, according to Kirsten Dean, Scotland Memorial Foundation director. The hospital has had to work around the current center still being in operation and has had to renovate room by room, she said.

The labor and delivery suites, GYN/Post-Opertive/Post-Partum Rooms, and newborn nurseries are all going to be a part of the renovations.

More than 700 babies are delivered at Scotland Memorial Hospital annually, according to the Scotland Memorial Foundation.

“The renovations for the Women’s Center will offer a more accommodating environment for the mother and families anxiously waiting to greet their precious new arrival,” the foundation said.

“From the moment a patient walks in our door, the entire birthing process will impact the rest of a mother and families life,” Women’s Center officials said in a statement. “Our goal is to provide each mother with a birthing experience that leaves the mother feeling in control, empowered and validated.”

According to Greg Wood, Scotland Health Care System president and CEO, the hospitals plans to invest $40 million in new expansions over the next five years.

“It’s been over 20 years since The Women’s Center at Scotland Memorial has had a major renovation. The renovation will enhance the complete patient experience —mind, body and spirit,” Wood said, who explained the partnerships with the outside community are just as important to the health care system’s success as its partnership with Carolina Healthcare System.

For more information on how to donate, call the Scotland Memorial Foundation at 910-291-7551.

Nolan Gilmour | Laurinburg Exchange Scotland Healthcare System employees hold up signs with the total funds raised for the capital project to renovate the current Women’s Center at Scotland Memorial Hospital.
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_IMG_0306.jpgNolan Gilmour | Laurinburg Exchange Scotland Healthcare System employees hold up signs with the total funds raised for the capital project to renovate the current Women’s Center at Scotland Memorial Hospital.

Nolan Gilmour | Laurinburg Exchange Michelle Bryant, a registered nurse at Scotland Memorial Hospital’s Women’s Center, cuts the cake at the official announcement of the public phase of its capital campaign to renovate the center.
https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/web1_IMG_0308.jpgNolan Gilmour | Laurinburg Exchange Michelle Bryant, a registered nurse at Scotland Memorial Hospital’s Women’s Center, cuts the cake at the official announcement of the public phase of its capital campaign to renovate the center.

By Nolan Gilmour

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Reach Nolan Gilmour at 910-506-3171