В больнице HCA Putnam торжественно открыли обновленный холл и новый кофейный буфет

HCA Putnam unveils renovated lobby as investments continueFree Access For HCA Florida Putnam Hospital, a newly renovated lobby is more than a fresh first impression. Leaders of the Palatka hospital say it is another visible sign of a continuing commitment to invest in the facility, expand services and keep quality medical care close to home for Putnam County residents. Hospital employees, patients, community leaders and other guests gathered Thursday afternoon for a grand reopening and ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the hospital’s renovated main lobby at 611 Zeagler Drive. The project, which began April 6, transformed the hospital’s primary entrance into an area with new flooring, ceilings and paint, a larger entryway, a redesigned greeter desk, and a more open layout intended to improve the experience for patients, visitors, and employees. HCA Putnam CEO Landon Smith said the goal was to create a space that immediately felt different to people entering the hospital. “The lobby, to me and all of us that work here, was very important because it is the first impression,” Smith told those gathered for the ceremony. “And so we wanted a space that was welcoming, that was a great space, an inviting space for patients, colleagues and visitors.” The renovation also brought a new amenity to the hospital, The Crescent coffee shop, the business’ second location. Smith said planning for the coffee shop dated back to April 2025 and its owner helped design the space and select its colors. Smith said Thursday’s reopening should be viewed as part of a much larger effort by parent company HCA Healthcare to modernize the hospital and expand the services available locally. HCA Healthcare has invested about $40 million in capital improvements at the hospital during more than a decade of ownership, Smith said. The lobby is the latest phase of that investment, following other improvements throughout the facility. The hospital has also renovated its kitchen, with the cafeteria and seating area expected to reopen in the coming weeks, and has several additional projects planned. “It absolutely signifies continued commitment to the community, continued commitment to expanding services, to modernizing the hospital and providing great patient care to Putnam County,” Smith said. The latest project follows the hospital’s $3 million renovation of its second floor, which reopened in November with 30 private rooms for medical-surgical and progressive-care patients. At the time, Smith described that project as part of HCA Healthcare’s broader strategy of keeping Putnam County’s full-service hospital modern and improving the patient experience. That renovation included upgraded technology, lighting and other improvements designed to create a more comfortable environment for patients. Smith said then that additional projects, including a new main lobby and renovated kitchen and cafeteria, were coming as the hospital continued to modernize. Hospital board Chairman Benji Bates said Thursday the investments are becoming increasingly visible throughout the facility. “We’re seeing investment back into the community,” Bates said. “We’ve seen it upstairs, we’ve seen it on medical wing east and west, and now we’ve seen it in this beautiful lobby.” Bates also pointed to investments in medical technology, including the hospital’s approximately $2 million da Vinci Xi Robotic Surgical System. The hospital has now completed 100 robotic surgeries in the community, Bates said Thursday. The robotic system was introduced as another way to provide higher-level care locally. Smith said earlier that the technology demonstrated the hospital’s commitment to investing in Putnam County and giving residents more options for advanced care without having to travel to Jacksonville, Gainesville or St. Augustine. Bates said the hospital understands its role in the region and is concentrating on providing the core medical services Putnam residents need. “There’s certain services, and Landon’s done a great job of that, of bringing back those core services that the community needs, being a true hospital and partner to this community,” Bates said. The lobby renovation required patients and visitors to use a temporary entrance beneath the covered walkway east of the main doors while much of the construction was underway. Smith thanked hospital employees and patients for adjusting as registration and access to areas, including the operating room, cardiac catheterization laboratory and radiology department, were rerouted. Smith said those changes were accomplished with essentially no disruption because of the work of employees throughout the hospital. Before the ribbon cutting, the Rev. Karl Flagg, pastor of Mt. Tabor First Baptist Church in Palatka, offered a prayer to dedicate the renovated space and thank hospital employees and leaders. “This is not just a renovation; this is a renaissance,” Flagg said as he prayed for those who work at the hospital and the patients who come through its doors. When it was time to officially open the lobby, hospital leaders turned the oversized scissors over to Melinda Brown, an employee who has spent 38 years serving the facility and its patients. Smith said Brown, the guest of honor and designated ribbon cutter, was a fitting choice because, for many people arriving at the hospital, she has long represented the very first impression the renovated lobby was designed to reflect. “So many of you know Melinda,” Smith said. “She is oftentimes the first impression of our hospital, and she has a laugh that you will never forget.”