Sacred Heart Hospital Dedicated

Somehow the bright sunshine filling up the lobby of the Sacred Heart Hospital on the Gulf last week seemed appropriate.

One a day that was part celebration, part humble thanks, the sunshine seemed to symbolize the hope that a new day had dawned in Gulf County.

Last Wednesday was a time to remember the journey from a vision to a new hospital to the reality highlighted in bricks, mortar, glass and equipment that the hospital has arrived.

A dedication and blessing ceremony was held for the Sacred Heart Hospital on the Gulf last week, in part a recognition of the “healing ministry” of Ascension Health Systems, of which Sacred Heart is a part, and to a community which made the nearly unthinkable possible.

“We have a new hospital,” intoned Dr. Henry Roberts, president of the Sacred Heart Foundation, during his remarks. “Congratulations to each and all of you. We have shown each other and all of America that we are best when we come together.

“We are better when we are together than we are alone.”

Roberts noted that local government partnered with passage of a half-cent sales tax several years ago to help defray the costs of health care for the needy and underinsured.

He noted that The St. Joe Company committed $5 million to the project beyond the land and some start-up construction costs on the $38 million facility.

Roberts noted a community that donated $10 million in total to the hospital, plaques in the lobby and outside various rooms in the hospital recognizing those who opened their wallets to benefit the whole.

“We never could have done it alone,” Roberts said. “It happened when we came together. Relish today, be thankful for what we have accomplished together because we now have a new hospital.”

And judging by the reaction of those who took a tour of the facility after the special blessing and dedication ceremony, a hospital that defies suitable adjectives.

“This is a long time coming,” said former long-time Port St. Joe mayor Frank Pate. “We needed this.

“I don’t know about being the first patient but I sure am glad it is here when I need it.”

Doug Kent, the executive director of the Gulf County Health Department who will be moving to head the Bay County Health Department at the end of the month, noted the winding path from a committee of four or five residents who believed the community needed a new hospital to the opening of the hospital doors on March 15.

“This is a dream come true,” Kent said. “This was the dream of four or five individuals on the county healthcare committee. They had the hearts and vision to follow this through.”

What tour-goers laid eyes upon was a 17-bed hospital – with room to expand to 25 beds as demand increases – that will offer 24/7 emergency room care, one operating room with another one ready as demand warrants, all private rooms, recovery areas, a chapel, cafeteria, community meeting room and plenty of equipment.

Even skeptics expressed astonishment.

“This is a great day,” said local businessman and city commissioner Greg Johnson. “I never thought it would be built. I admit it, I was a skeptic.

“I hope the community comprehends what an attribute this is and how much it will save the community. Just the ambulance cost savings alone will be significant.”

Gerald Alcorn was a radiology technician at the extinct Gulf Pines and has since transitioned to the Health Department where he works out of the radiology department created through a partnership with Sacred Heart. Alcorn will move to the new hospital upon its opening.

“This is so impressive,” Alcorn said. “At our Open House (March 6 will be a community Open House at the hospital) the community is going to go, ‘Oh, my God.’”

The dedication and blessing ceremony served a dual purpose.

One was to remember and recognize the work of the Catholic Daughters of Charity which for centuries has provided an example of compassion and healing to communities around the world.

The second was to provide a sneak peek before the doors officially open next month of what community partners have made possible, the plaques adorning the walls around the hospital writing the story.

“The quality of care is reflective of the quality of the community,” said Roger Hall, president of the Sacred Heart Hospital of the Gulf Coast. “What an incredible journey to make this ministry that will change lives. The community has raised more than $10 million for this facility. This $35 million facility will create 100 new jobs.

“Today this community is poised for the next step in economic development. We have been in Destin for seven years and delivered high-quality compassionate care. Today is a wonderful day for Sacred Heart and for the community.”

A medical office building on the hospital campus should be open and ready by late summer. The hospital has hired a medical director, Dr. James Ward, Jr., and much of its staff though openings remain.

Some 30 percent of the new hires were people born or raised in Gulf County who wanted to return but could not due to the absence of jobs, Hall said.

Sacred Heart has a contract with Tallahassee Orthopedic Center to provide orthopedic care at the hospital and is close to locking up a deal for a cardiology practice which would operate out of the medical office building, which would also house out-patient dialysis and diagnostics, in addition to other services.