HERRIN - Coming on the heels of a $20 million building expansion less than two years ago, Herrin Hospital officials announced plans Wednesday for yet another major expansion featuring a new emergency department and chest pain unit. Construction will likely get under way this summer.

The plan was unveiled at a fundraiser dinner at the Herrin Civic Center by hospital administrator Becky Ashton.

Ashton said a new emergency room would be about 11,000 square feet or almost double the size of the existing department. Cost is projected at $5.5 million. Moreover, a new chest pain unit will occupy the current E.R. after some renovations to the tune of $2 million.

To assist in the hospital's expansion efforts, Bess Hogan with the hospital auxiliary presented a check at the dinner to Ashton in the amount of $100,000.

Guest speaker Dave Dravecky, a former standout pitcher with the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants before a cancerous tumor in his pitching arm ended his career and resulted in the amputation of his limb, encouraged friends of the hospital to share in the giving process.

"Just ask yourself if the people of your community are worth it," Dravecky said. "What you offer is hope for many people. This hospital is here for every one of you. It's a significant part of your community. And I challenge you to consider playing a significant role (through a financial contribution)."

Ashton said plans for an expansion with the E.R. had been considered for quite some time, but were put on hold while the larger expansion southward was completed.

"We're bursting at the seams everywhere," she said. "This newest expansion will take our emergency department all the way out (eastward) to 13th Street. When we designed this plan, we asked for input from our E.R. staff and physicians, our pharmacists - basically all departments that serve E.R. patients."

Ashton said a new E.R. will include additional exam rooms and state-of-the-art equipment. When completed, it will decrease the waiting time for patients, while increasing the comfort level.

"The new department will allow us to serve more people," she said. "And the new chest pain unit will allow our specialists to triage patients who arrive with heart attack symptoms more quickly."

Dr. Javier Muniz, whose private practice is located next door to the hospital, said the expansion is great for the greater Herrin area because more patients can be treated sooner.

"One of the worst things is sitting in the waiting room with a bunch of sick people," he said. "A larger E.R. will help solve that. It will enable patients to be evaluated quicker and more efficiently, which will help me, too, because I will get information about my patients that much quicker. Herrin Hospital is very well respected among area physicians; the staff takes pride in working there and the community supports its hospital."

john.homan@thesouthern.com

351-5805

DETAILS

Herrin Hospital officials have announced a $7.5 million expansion plan

A new emergency department that is almost twice the size of the existing E.R. will cost $5.5 million

A new chest pain unit will be housed in the existing E.R. after renovations at a cost of $2 million

Herrin Hospital employs more than 700 workers making it one of the larger employers in the region

E.R. department to expand at Herrin Hospital; Chest pain unit will move into existing space