Beaufort Memorial Hospital will show off the new $14.5 million Pratt Emergency Center during a community preview set for Sunday, Dec. 16, from 2 to 4 p.m.

The free event is open to the community and will offer guests the opportunity to take self-guided tours of the 20,500-square-foot facility.

More than double the size of the former emergency department, the new facility features expanded reception and triage areas, 24 private treatment rooms, two trauma rooms, and a special area for patients waiting for test results, among other features.

The renovation and expansion was needed to serve the increasing demand for emergency medical services in the community. Beaufort Memorial’s emergency room visits currently total 40,000 annually and are expected to increase.

A $1.5 million donation made by Beaufort philanthropist Dr. Bruce Pratt in honor of his parents provided the start-up money to launch the ambitious project. Last year, the hospital renamed the ER the George N. Pratt and Sarah Meyer Pratt Emergency Center.

In addition, major upgrades have been made to the hospital’s infrastructure, including increasing the capacity of the cooling system, which is vital to the operation of the advanced technology currently being used in the ER. Three new Caterpillar 800KW generator sets also have been installed in a new power house, allowing the hospital to be 100 percent self-sufficient in the event of external power loss.

Guests attending the event are encouraged to park near the Beaufort Medical Plaza or in the lot located at the hospital’s annex entrance at Allison and Ribaut roads. Light refreshments will be served and guests will receive a complimentary commemorative gift.

To learn more about the Pratt Emergency Center, visit www.bmhsc.org.
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