Darland completed a two-year expansion and remodel project at Providence Medical Center (PMC) in Wayne, Nebraska. The more than 80,000-square-foot project included the addition of a new, five-room emergency department and ambulance garage-with renovations to nearly every part of the hospital and upgrades to more than 75 percent of the building's electrical and mechanical systems.

In addition to serving the town of more than 5,500 people, Providence Medical Center provides critical access care for many of the surrounding communities, which meant the hospital needed to remain 100 percent functional throughout construction. The project was divided into nine major phases, with each phase consisting of sub-phases to ensure minimal impact to patients and staff.

The project added modern conveniences for both patients and staff at PMC. The new ER department offers more accessibility and spacious, private rooms. New mothers are able to remain in one room throughout their stay in the remodeled labor, delivery, postpartum and recovery suites. Larger patient rooms throughout the hospital provide more comfort for visitors and added space for necessary medical equipment. In the outpatient center, a dedicated check-in area was created to increase efficiency and ensure patient privacy. "We have also relocated our chapel to the heart of our facility - to match its place in our mission," said PMC CEO, Jim Frank.

Remodeling an active hospital came with challenges, said Frank, who took over operations at PMC just before construction commenced. Weather, asbestos and design changes were just some of the issues that had to be addressed early in the project. Darland helped to ensure the project stayed on course, "they kept us focused and they were always looking towards the end goal," Frank said. "They were always trying to keep us efficient and keep the hospital operating."
 
The hospital has secured new outreach physicians in orthopedics and psychiatry with OBGYN and vascular services slated for the near future. "Physicians want to work in modern facilities and we now have that," Frank said. "The end result of this project is a new, efficient, state-of-the-art healthcare facility that will serve the needs of this community and the surrounding area for the next 30 years."