“Patients want access to expert care that is close to home,” said Paula F. Baker, Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer. “This expansion ensures those needs are met, and with the latest technology on the market.”
The addition was named the Larry D. Neff CT-MRI Suite after Larry D. Neff, who passed away in May 2016. Neff served as chairman of the Freeman Neosho Board of Directors and was an 18-year member of the Freeman Health System Board of Directors.
The project added approximately 1,700 square feet to the west side of the building. An additional 1,400 square feet of existing space was renovated, and includes new, state-of-the-art MRI equipment. This piece of equipment is one of the quietest on the market and increases patient comfort. The number of available appointments has doubled, and a full-time MRI technician was employed. Costs for the expansion included $1.6 million for construction and $986,000 for MRI equipment and shielding.
“Our patients deserve to have healthcare that’s easily accessible,” said Renee Denton, Freeman Neosho Chief Operating Officer. “This project was an investment in our patients and this community.”
In addition to expanding CT-MRI services, a hazmat decontamination shower was constructed, along with a biomed waste storage unit. Freeman Auxiliary purchased chairs for the waiting area and a sofa bed for the radiology department. The chairs provide comfortable seating for patients and guests while the sofa bed enables the hospital to have radiology staff available 24 hours a day to provide CT-MRI services.
About Freeman Health System
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2017, Freeman earned dozens of individual awards for medical excellence and patient safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. The Leapfrog Group awarded Freeman the highest grade possible in the Spring 2017 Hospital Patient Safety Score. With more than 300 physicians on staff representing more than 70 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com.