Aloha … from BetheRenovated Kingwood Health Center opens on Route 66 in Randolph
Physical therapy now major part of clinic
RANDOLPH, Nov. 11, 2008 – Upstairs Richard Connor of Chelsea meets with diabetes educator Jennifer Stratton. Downstairs Randolph Center’s Muriel VandeGriek does balance exercises with physical therapist Eric Medved.
Dental and endocrinology patients also come and go. Both upper and lower parking lots are full. Some spaces are taken up by Connor Contracting construction vehicles as workers last week put the final touches on a building that has undergone a remarkable transformation in just a matter of months – Gifford Medical Center’s new Kingwood Health Center.
First built by Joe King of DuBois & King in 1978, the nearly 5,200-square-foot, two-story Kingwood building on Route 66 had been home to a variety of businesses throughout the years, including private practice dentist Dr. John Westbrook who has been in the building since its start and remains a tenant.
The building sold in 1985 and 1987 and had been on the market since 2006, when Gifford purchased it late last year to help support the Randolph-based medical center’s growth.
Gifford has seen patient and staff numbers climb in recent years and is increasingly looking for solutions to cramped quarters in, albeit well maintained, but aging buildings.
An upper story office space in Kingwood quickly became home to some of the hospital’s outpatient specialty services, including endocrinology, some neurology services and the Diabetes Clinic.
Significant improvements to the dark brown, flat-roofed 1970s structure followed this summer and fall. A new pitched roof, double-pane windows, bright clapboard siding and insulation were added to stop leaks, and for energy efficiency and aesthetics. Overgrown trees and brush were removed to expose the building. Parking lots were re-graded and drainage systems were added.
“It’s exciting,” said Dr. Westbrook. “There’s new windows, there’s more insulation, and the parking lot. They’ve opened it up and made it more visible. And I’ve got medical neighbors. It’s a much improved physical plant with improved access.”
Among Dr. Westbrook’s new neighbors are Gifford’s physical therapists.
The downstairs of the split-level was completely redone to accommodate the hospital’s entire outpatient physical therapy department.
The department, including the Balance Center and Continence Program, moved to the health center in mid-October and officially began seeing patients in the spacious new clinic on Oct. 20.
The response from patients to both the bright and open physical therapy space and upstairs diabetes, endocrinology and neurology space has been overwhelming.
“Almost universally, people have come in and said, ‘Wow, what a great space,’” physical therapist Rachel Westbrook said.
“Patients love it,” agreed receptionist Sandy Ryll. “I’ve heard a lot of patients say it’s much closer to home.”
Located just a half-mile from Interstate 89, for many coming from out of town the health center is more convenient than the larger downtown hospital to both reach and access. The Diabetes Clinic and endocrinology had been on the third floor of the hospital, for example.
Barbara Connor, wife of diabetes patient Richard Connor, said she liked the new location for those very reasons – it’s both closer to their Chelsea home and easier to park and walk inside.
Richard had another reason for liking the health center. “It’s close to McDonald’s, so I can cheat,” he said, out of health care providers’ ear shot.
VandeGriek, awaiting her appointment with Medved, called the new facility “impressive.”
Upstairs, exam rooms look out on woods, and endocrinology registered nurse Anna Mary Page said a professional collaboration, particularly for diabetes care, has emerged.
“We’re a team here,” Page said. “We’re here for the patients, and I see chronic diseases improving under Dr. Trost’s care.”
Dr. Susanne Trost is the only endocrinologist in central Vermont. Since she joined Gifford in 2006, she has started an insulin pump program for type 1 diabetes patients and soon will start offering glucose sensors – a relatively new technology – to those who could benefit from them.
Besides providing patients new technologies, at the health center Dr. Trost says she’s often able to introduce patients to diabetes educators like Stratton on their first visit. Stratton and Dr. Trost are also working together on patient care, such as jointly reviewing insulin pump patients’ blood sugars to assure they remain in good health.
Downstairs, besides having a new, large space, the physical therapy department’s technology has also been updated. A treadmill and exercise bikes in the gym space are new, as is the state-of-the-art balance therapy equipment used to help patients like VandeGriek with vestibular and also orthopedic disorders. A new “total gym” will also soon arrive.
In addition, there are four private exam rooms and new office spaces for staff.
In Ryll’s office is a plant from a patient who wanted to be the first to buy the customary office-warming gift. “Congratulations and good luck in your new place of work. It is such a beautiful place to work. God bless,” reads the accompanying card.
“Patients have always known we’ve had great therapists, but now we have a great space,” said Medved.
Gifford’s physical therapists will share their “great” new space with the public next month. A Dec. 5, 3-5 p.m., open house is planned. All are welcome.
Next year, look for final parking lot improvements, namely paving, and landscaping to take place.
Open houseDec. 5, 3-5 p.m., Kingwood Health Center, physical therapy department, 1422 Route 66, Randolph. Call 728-2229 for more information.
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Kingwood Health CenterWho you’ll find thereUpper floor: Endocrinologist Dr. Susanne Trost Diabetes Clinic educators Neurologist Dr. Paul Chervin Private practice dentist Dr. John Westbrook Lower floor: Physical therapists |