Hospital administrator eager to achieve better patient care in new facility

Photo By 1st Lt. Kali Gradishar | An addition to the Belmopan Western Regional Hospital is nearing completion after nearly six weeks of construction May 15, 2014, in Belmopan, Belize. Members of the Belize Defence Force Light Engineer Company have been working alongside U.S. Air Force, Army and Marine engineers on additions at four schools and one medical facility throughout Belize as part of New Horizons Belize 2014. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Kali L. Gradishar/Released)  

BELMOPAN, BELIZE

05.15.2014

Story by Tech. Sgt. Kali Gradishar 

12th Air Force (Air Forces Southern)

BELMOPAN, Belize - In order to provide better care to patients, the Western Regional Hospital in Belmopan, Belize, is receiving an addition to the facility as part of New Horizons Belize 2014. The work at the hospital is nearing completion and should be ready to hand over to hospital administrators by June 20.

New Horizons is a multifaceted exercise that involves Belize Defence Force and U.S. military engineers training and operating together as they build additions at four schools and the one medical facility throughout Belize.

"We've had renovations before, but I can't recall the last time we had a building added," said Bernadette Nicholson, Western Regional Hospital administrator who has managed the hospital since 2008. "We are very excited, and it feels like a great accomplishment. We have a lot of expectations for this building."

Engineers from the BDF Light Engineer Company and U.S. Air Force have been working on the site together since April 3. The building will include six patient rooms, an occupational therapy room, a nurses station and administrative office, a pharmacy, a conference room and three restrooms - two for the patients and one for the staff.

"Everything's been awesome. We haven't had any major problems with the construction. The block was here when we needed it, and the roof showed up on time," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Chris Belknap, project manager on the site. "Everything has just fallen into place."

Belknap estimates the construction crew was about one and a half weeks ahead of schedule and could be done as early as June 15.

With the completion date nearing, the hospital administrator reflected on the time spent on the proposal when the Belize government and U.S. service members first began discussions on where New Horizons projects were most needed.

"We were very instrumental in putting together a floor plan for proposal," Nicholson said about her and her staff. "It was a well-put-together proposal. We saw the need for this, so we're glad it's being constructed for our patients.

"With this new building, we'll have better control and management of our patients," she added. "We also really needed the conference room. Now we'll have a place to hold our meetings and gatherings."

Without the conference room, the medical staff would continue to meet in a small room across from the hospital that is often booked by other organizations.

Both the hospital administrators and the construction crew are looking forward to completion day.

"I've been on a lot of sites, and I never lose the amazement of seeing a project complete," said Belknap.

Nicholson and the hospital nursing administrator, Bernadette Rivas, received a guided walk-through of the facility from the construction crew before the roof was on, and both were thrilled at the progress of the new addition.

"We just absolutely loved the building," Nicholson said. "I'm glad we will have this building to offer better services to our patients."

• Date Taken: 05.15.2014
• Date Posted: 05.17.2014 15:25
• Story ID: 130175
• Location: BELMOPAN, BZ