History was made Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017, as officials cut the ribbon for the new VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital (VCU Health CMH).

Officials participating in the ribbon cutting were from VCU, VCU Health and VCU Health CMH. An open house followed where the public was given the opportunity to see the new state-of-the-art 167,000 square foot facility for the first time.

Wayne Parrish, Chairman, VCU Health CMH board of directors, started the ceremony by addressing the crowd in attendance by saying, “Two years ago on a warm October day I stood before you and sang a song; a beautiful morning, a beautiful day and a wonderful feeling, I won’t sing today but I will share this seed that was planted that day. A certified seed, that states 100 percent germination with a maturity date of October 2017; right on schedule. These are the people that made it happen, DPR Construction, JLL and the Smith Group JJR. Today we are here to see that this seed has grown, with God’s help, into the beautiful structure before us.”

W. Scott Burnette, CEO, VCU Health CMH, said, “Over the last two years I have been talking about the new era of health care for this region. The facilities you see before you are the physical manifestations of the beginning of that era.” Burnette also added, “Through this site, and in partnership with VCU Medical Center,

MCV Physicians and the many other divisions of VCU Health, we will be able to deliver an integrated, multi-discipline model of health care that combines the best of community medicine with world class academic medicine to the citizens of Southern Virginia and Northern North Carolina.”

Marsha Rappley, M.D., CEO, VCU Health System, VCU vice president for Health Sciences said, “This is a joining of two institutions that share a very important value and that is a dedication to be here when you need us; getting the right care to the right person in the right place and doing it at the right time and that’s the future of medicine. The future is not going to be about people traveling long distances if they don’t have to.”

“What we’re celebrating is not only a building, but the commitment the people of this community have to make sure that quality health care is being provided locally and in facilities that warrant and support the team members providing it,” said Deborah Davis, chief operating officer, VCU Hospitals, VCU Health System. Davis also noted that the new facility will feature an “integrated care” environment where the facility and team members work in unison to promote health and healing.

Burnette said that the new hospital will become a health care destination for the region. “Our affiliation brought together two organizations that have had a history of and continued passion for quality and patient safety. Combining that commitment with state-of-the-art facilities and technology will allow for a level of service that will truly set VCU Health CMH apart from any other hospital in this region and perhaps the state.”

The new hospital will not officially open until Nov. 11, 2017, and the Obstetrics department will officially open Nov. 20, 2017.

The new VCU Health CMH features 70 private patient rooms. The facility also includes three operating room suites, a cesarean section suite, a 16-bay emergency department and an Obstetrics department with four LDRP rooms (Labor, Delivery, Recovery, Postpartum).

The new hospital also features a permanent cardiac catheterization lab to provide the most advanced cardiac care in the region and a full complement of diagnostic services including MRI, CT, nuclear medicine, cardiac, vascular and pulmonary studies.

Sixty-three years ago, Community Memorial Hospital opened its doors to serve the health care needs of the community. Now, as VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital, medical services will grow to greater heights and VCU Health CMH is set to become a regional destination for advanced medical services right here at home. The future of health care for this region is bright and with the support of VCU Health, on Nov. 11, 2017, “We’re opening the doors to a healthier future.”