June 15, 2005 - The opening of the new laparoscopic operating suite completes the first step toward the hospital’s planned $30 million expansion. This is North Fulton Regional Hospital’s first expansion in 14 years and signals the beginning of a series of expansions and renovations that are to come. Since the population of North Fulton has significantly increased since the hospital’s opening in 1983, the expansion plan was necessary to adequately meet community needs.  For this reason, the hospital invested $1 million in this approximately 2500 total square foot addition to the surgical department. Included in this expansion project is the upgrade to the existing cystoscopy room (this room is used for special procedures for the removal of kidney stones). This room currently contains a digital cystoscopy table with built-in X-ray tubes and digital fluoroscopy. In addition, the new neurosurgery suite is anticipated to open by the end of this year, thus increasing the number of operating suites to seven. According to John Holland, President and CEO of North Fulton Regional Hospital, the next project is the renovation of the existing emergency room. Once completed, it will accommodate a higher capacity of people because will contain 10 new exam/procedure rooms, a larger ambulance area and increased parking among other expansion features.  

On the day of the ribbon-cutting for the laparoscopic operating suite, there were many positive responses from the staff. “[The doctors and staff] just can’t wait to get in and get started,” said Rhonda Perkey Director of Surgical Services. Also, according to Chief Nursing Officer Jeanne Reeves, the new laparoscopic suite and neurosurgery suite will be beneficial for the doctors and staff as well as the patients. It will increase efficiency of the clinical personnel which can in turn help decrease turnover time, the time it takes a patient to enter and be released from the hospital. As mentioned earlier, the completion of the laparoscopic suite signifies the first expansion since 1991 and it is also the beginning of the first phase of expansion. It is anticipated that the completion of the first phase will occur in 2007 with the construction of two additional operating rooms, thus making a total of 9 operating suites.