FORT BENNING, Ga., (Nov. 12, 2014) -- Fort Benning marked an important day for its medical future Nov. 7, as the new Martin Army Community Hospital was officially opened during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The new MACH took approximately five years to construct and equip at a total cost of roughly $500 million. Construction was a joint effort between Turner Construction, the Army Health Facility Planning Agency and the Savannah district of the Army Corps of Engineers. The new facility is about 745,000 square feet, double the size of the previous hospital.
It has 84 inpatient beds, four acuity-adaptable intensive care unit beds, four step-down ICU beds, 14 mother-baby beds, 14 baby bassinets and 24 behavioral health beds. It also features five labor, delivery and recovery suites, one cesarean suite, five general operating rooms, one orthopedic operating room and two endoscopy rooms. The emergency room will be more than 16,000 square feet, and will consist of one trauma room, two dedicated heat-injury bays, 14 exam rooms and six fast-track exam rooms.
After five years of waiting, Col. Scott Avery, commander of the Fort Benning Medical Activity, said the new facility represents a tremendous opportunity to provide top-notch medical care.
"It is my sincere hope that these last five years will be remembered as an era of change and renewal, characterized by an expanded opportunity that we have," Avery said. "All this capacity will provide our staff with an increased ability to provide care not only to our Soldiers and Family members, but also to our veteran population as well."
The new hospital replaces the previous MACH, which was named for the late Maj. Gen. Joseph Martin in 1958. Martin is known for his work in field medicine and his long service in medical military education and training.
"This new facility continues to honor Maj. Gen. Martin's contribution to Army medicine by incorporating an evidence-based design and features an environmental sustainability to provide a healthier and safer atmosphere for all of our beneficiaries," Avery said.
Brig. Gen. Barbara Holcomb, the commander of the Southern Regional Medical Command, said just as the old facility saw numerous medical advancements after it was opened, so too will this new hospital.
"In 1958, when the hospital was named after Maj. Gen. Martin, computers were being developed, a new vaccine was eradicating polio and the birth control pill was approved the Food and Drug Administration," Holcomb said. "In the following years, health care changed from inpatient focused to outpatient focused. Surgical procedures changed from open incisions to lithroscopic. Many other advances in research, science and technology changed how we provide medical treatment to improve outcomes for our patients.
"That brings us to today and this beautiful facility. The hospital's evidence-based health care design supports a patient-centered environment. This environment includes respect for privacy, quieter areas that include access to nature to enhance the healing process and natural light that welcomes patients and their Family members to the facility."
Members of Martin's Family were in attendance for the ribbon cutting, having made the trip from Oklahoma.
"I think the facility honors him well," said Karen Barnes, Martin's granddaughter. "I wish he could see it. I think the execution of it as a center for care is just spectacular. He'd be very proud."
Despite the new facility and new equipment, Maj. Gen. Scott Miller, Maneuver Center of Excellence commanding general, said one thing will remain the same - the hard-working hospital staff.
"As we look at a hospital that was dedicated 56 years ago, I think it absolutely served its purpose well, and I think we have the opportunity now to watch another great hospital serve its purpose well," Miller said. "Martin Army has been a great hospital for many years. What makes this hospital great is not just the modern design, but it's the people that serve here every single day. It's the people who enter these doors every single day. To all of you, you have my admiration, but you also have a challenge - you are what will make this hospital great."
The old hospital will continue to accept emergency room patients until 6:59 a.m. Nov. 16. After that, all patients will be directed to the new MACH.
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