Sacred Heart Health System and Greenhut Construction Co. expect to receive bids by Feb. 7 for construction of the new 25-bed hospital to be built in Gulf County. The construction is expected to begin in March.

Greenhut Construction was selected as construction manager for the new Sacred Heart Hospital to be built along Highway 98 in Port St. Joe. Last week in in Port St. Joe, Greenhut representatives traveled to the Gulf County Commission offices to meet about 40-50 local contractors interested in bidding as subcontractors and suppliers for various phases of the project.

Greenhut’s project managers presented the hospital design plans and gave local contractors the opportunity to discuss the scope and cost of the project, the materials needed, and specifics of various subcontracts. In turn, Greenhut construction managers asked local contractors about their experience and capabilities.

“The job fair was tremendous and well received by the area contractors. They were very responsive,” said Kevin Spellman, senior project manager for Greenhut Construction. “We will make every effort to give local businesses and qualified contractors a piece of this major project.”

The process of trucking fill dirt and leveling parts of the 27-acre site has begun, along with work to prepare the foundation of the building. The site will be elevated to 14.7 feet above sea level to protect the facility against storm surge from future hurricanes. Sacred Heart also is obtaining permits to extend the utilities needed at the construction site.

Based on the latest projections, the hospital is expected to be completed in the summer of 2009. The new Sacred Heart Hospital will provide residents of Gulf and Franklin counties with:

• A community hospital with 25 private rooms, an emergency department, and two operating rooms.
• An urgent care clinic to treat minor injuries and illnesses
• Laboratory services
• Diagnostic imaging services such as CT scans, x-ray, ultrasound and mammography
• A Medical Office Building to provide offices for 10 physicians
• A helipad to be used by Sacred Heart’s AirHeart helicopter, providing rapid transport for trauma patients and other critically ill patients to a Trauma Center.

The Sacred Heart Foundation has raised $2 million from community businesses, institutions and individual donors as part of its continuing campaign to support the hospital. In addition, the St. Joe Community Foundation has contributed $1.5 million.

“We’re thrilled with the support coming forth from the community,” said Dr. Henry Roberts, president of the Sacred Heart Foundation. “The dollars donated will be used to add specialized equipment and to upgrade the furnishings and other interior amenities of the hospital.”


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Labels: Gulf County