Sentara takes action to promote the spread of hospitals.
—by Lily Perkinson
Sentara Health is committed to maintaining hospital locations that cater to community needs, even in rural areas of Virginia. Recently, Sentara increased its investment of $70 million to more than $107 million toward the reconstruction of the Halifax Regional Hospital in South Boston.
The current building is more than 70 years old and was dated. To ensure the facility has up-to-date systems, the plan is to rebuild the hospital from the ground up. Additions to services include general surgical procedures, intensive care, and observation beds with an estimated completion date of summer 2026. There will also be more attention focused on making the rooms comfortable for patients and creating more green space around the hospital, which speaks to integrating nature into the healing process.
Since only about one-third of the original hospital was occupied, the new acute hospital will be smaller than its previous footprint, decreasing in size from 300,000 square feet to about 100,000 square feet.
With its updated infrastructure and design, the new layout will provide a longer-lasting facility equipped with all the tools and technology needed for years to come. While rural hospitals are witnessing a nationwide decline, services are still in demand. Healthcare systems like Sentara continue to prioritize the health of residents across the state, wherever they may be.
This article originally appeared in the October 2024 issue.
