July 3, 2008

Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Expansion at WRMC

WEATHERFORD, TEXAS - The official groundbreaking ceremony of a $27 million expansion project at Weatherford Regional Medical Center (WRMC) was held on July 2, 2008. Over 200 guests joined members of the Weatherford Regional Medical Center administration, board, physicians, staff and others dignitaries to witness the first official "dig" of the project.

Rebekah Peoples, WRMC Admissions Specialist, entertained the crowd with beautiful music before and after the ceremony. Senior Pastor Van Houser of North Side Baptist Church in Weatherford provided the invocation and Katy Benet performed the National Anthem.

Donnie Romine, CEO welcomed the guests and spoke about the significance of this expansion project and how much it is needed in order to keep pace with the current growth in Parker County. Phase 1 of the multiphase expansion project includes a new 23-bed emergency department, a new 12-bed intensive care unit, a new testing and diagnostic center as well as an expansion of the imaging, laboratory and pharmacy services.

The ceremony included speeches by Texas State Representative Phil King, District 61, Marcia Etie, Outreach Representative for Congresswoman Kay Granger; Mike Carter, Former Chairman of the Parker County Hospital District, Michael Portacci, Division II President of Community Health Systems, Jon-Paul Harmer, M.D., WRMC Chief of Staff and Joe Birmingham, Ed., D, Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

The groundbreaking ceremony celebrated the commitment that the hospital has in providing quality care in Parker County. WRMC continues to be a great place for employees to work, physicians to practice medicine and patients to receive care.

Pictured left to right: Texas State Representative Phil King, District 61; Marcia Etie, Outreach Representative for Congresswoman Kay Granger; Mayor Dennis Hooks, City of Weatherford; Mike Carter, Former Chairman, Parker County Hospital District; Michael Portacci, Division President, Community Health Systems; Donnie Romine, CEO, Weatherford Regional Medical Center; Joe Birmingham, Ed., D, Chairman, Weatherford Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees; Jon-Paul Harmer, M.D., Chief of Staff and Joe Eakins, Weatherford Regional Medical Center 2007 Employee of the Year.