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UPMC Chautauqua Opens New Maternity, Mental Health Units

County Executive George Borrello joins UPMC Chautauqua officials during a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new women’s and Maternity care center and adolescent and adult mental health inpatient units addition at its Foote Avenue facility. The 42,000-square-foot project cost $20 million. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

Is there a more suitable place to celebrate the creation of something new than in a maternity ward?

Well, that is what UPMC Chautauqua officials did Wednesday as they hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony in the new state-of-the-art women’s and maternity care center≥ Local elected officials were also in attendance as UPMC Chautauqua officials opened its new two-floor addition, which also includes adolescent and adult mental health inpatient units.

Brian Durniok, UPMC Chautauqua interim president, said the $20 million, 42,000-square-foot addition to the hospital is an example of what can be done when hospital officials share the goal of improving health care options for the community.

“This project represents the power of people working together to secure the funding for this project,” he said.

Betsy T. Wright, former UPMC Chautauqua president and CEO, said the project was made possible because of the $24.6 million grant the hospital received from the state in March 2016 and because of the integration with UPMC, which was finalized in December 2016.

Lisa Short, Falconer Printing & Design designer, in front of her mosaic of around 700 baby photos, which were submitted by community members that will hang on a wall in the new women’s and maternity care center at UPMC Chautauqua, located at 207 Foote Ave. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

She said thanks to Cecil Miller, UPMC Chautauqua vice president of operations, the project was finished on-time and under budget.

George Borrello, county executive, said there are a lot of positive economic development projects completed or ongoing in Jamestown and Chautauqua County, with UPMC Chautauqua expansion being the latest.

“Going forward we have a bright future in Chautauqua County and UPMC Chautauqua is an important part of that,” he said.

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, UPMC Chautauqua officials hosted an open house of the new facilities. People were able to see for the first time the two mosaics created by Lisa Short of Falconer Printing & Design. One mosaic was created from photos submitted by those who were born or whose children were born at UPMC Chautauqua (WCA Hospital) or Jamestown General Hospital. People were invited to share baby photos to help commemorate the new hospital expansion. The photos of mom and baby or of just baby are on display in the new women’s and maternity care center.

The other mosaic was created by school-age children who created drawings using colors and inspirational words. This mosaic hangs in the new adolescent and adult mental health inpatient units.

The multi-million-dollar construction project began in September of 2017, commencing with demolition of the existing ambulance building and verification of existing structural features for steel fabrication. Concrete foundations progressed through winter and finished on-time to allow setting of structural steel.

Funds for the project were made possible from the state through the Essential Health Care Provider Support Program.

The new addition includes four labor and delivery suites; 12 post-partum private rooms; 10 inpatient adolescent mental health rooms; and 20 inpatient adult mental health rooms, including a spacious waiting area.

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