Sonora Community Hospital: They’re “Moving”

Sonora Community Hospital personnel practiced moving patients between the old and new hospitals again this morning.

Hospital spokeswoman Lynn Gates says staff members were standing-in this morning as OB, ICU and med-surgery patients. The volunteers — placed in ambulances — were taken across town from Sonora Community Hospital to the new Sonora Regional Medical Center.

Hospital officials say every detail of the mock move was being timed, monitored and double checked so when the actual patient move date arrives, Wednesday January 14, the transition to Sonora Regional Medical Center will go without a hitch. Officials expect the actual patients move to start at 6 a.m. Jan. 14 and be complete no later than noon that day.

Patients are the only items being moved. Trucks and crews are now hauling various departments from the old facility to the new one on Greenley Road. Rental trucks and vans will be making constant trips back and forth now until all supplies, medical records, and the like are moved and set up.

Gates says even the move of each department has been planned and timed with exact times when a moved department or office will be back up and running again at the new facility.

The new hospital is holding a public open house and dedication ceremony Sunday, Jan. 11 beginning at 1 p.m. Tours of the new health care facility will also be given at that time.