HARRISONBURG –On June 6, Rockingham Memorial Hospital welcomed more than 6,000 visitors to the ribbon-cutting and public open house for its new hospital, which is located on a 254-acre health campus just east of Harrisonburg, Va.

The $300 million, 6-floor, 630,000 square foot facility boasts 238 private inpatient rooms as well as an Emergency Department with 50 private rooms and four trauma bays. RMH serves the residents of the city of Harrisonburg as well as Rockingham County, where it is now situated, and six surrounding counties. It has one of the busiest Emergency Departments in the state, serving more than 75,000 patients annually.

In his opening remarks, RMH Healthcare President and CEO Jim Krauss paid tribute to RMH’s original benefactor, Harrisonburg businessman William Leake, who dreamed of establishing a hospital in the community so his neighbors would not have to travel outside the area for medical care—as he had to do following a leg injury.

“I think Mr. Leake would be proud to know that we have been true to the highest interpretation of his vision,” said Krauss. “Through the years, we have sought to ensure that everyone in our community has had access to affordable, high-quality medical care, right here at home.”

Boy Scout Troop 40 of Harrisonburg raised the U.S. and Virginia flags, along with the RMH banner, on the site for the first time. Special music was presented by the U.S. Army Blues Band and the Shenandoah Valley Children’s Choir.

RMH chaplain Robin Martin delivered the invocation, offering thanks that no serious injuries or loss of life had occurred during more than 2.5 million construction hours on the 630,000-square-foot facility.

In his opening remarks, Krauss acknowledged the past leadership of retired administrator J. Nelson Liskey, who served from 1952 to 1975, and retired president and CEO Carter Melton Jr., who served from 1975 to 2008 and presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the facility four years ago. Krauss also thanked community members for their generosity and support throughout the planning phase and during construction.

“Even as we pay tribute to our heritage and the people and events that brought us to this day, we anticipate the future and prepare for our second century of service to the next generations of families in this community,” Krauss said. “I hope you enjoy experiencing your new hospital and health campus.”

Other speakers for the event included Barbara Stoltzfus, chair of the RMH Board of Directors, and Lucy Weston, MD, chief of the RMH medical staff.

Officials say the new hospital incorporates the latest technology, evidence-based design and sustainable building principles to create a safe and healing environment. A former practicing nurse, Stoltzfus recalled that Florence Nightingale, in her “Notes on Nursing,” published in 1898, observed that quality medical care goes beyond simply administering the right treatments. It also includes fresh air, natural light, warmth and quiet, cleanliness and a healthy diet, the nursing pioneer wrote. These elements, Stoltzfus said, have been incorporated into the building’s design to promote wellness and healing.

“Every patient room is private, which reduces the risk of infection and provides a restful environment,” Stoltzfus said. “Large windows allow natural light and provide beautiful views. The finishing materials that were selected, such as flooring and paint, do not emit noxious odors. Beautiful healing gardens offer a place for reflection and respite.”

For Dr. Weston, RMH is “the perfect place to practice medicine,” not only because of the availability of advanced diagnostic equipment and treatments, but also because of the beautiful setting. This new state-of-the-art facility, along with the welcoming community and quality of life in the central Shenandoah Valley, will help RMH continue to attract highly skilled medical professionals who will provide the highest level of care, she said.

“I am not so different from the 300 or so physicians who practice at RMH,” Weston said. “They are well trained, compassionate, high-caliber people, and they chose to come here to the Valley to practice because of how much it has to offer. But they wouldn’t be here if they didn’t feel that RMH offered the best quality care possible to their patients.”

Many visitors said they attended the open house because they wanted to share in the excitement of the day.

“I’m here so I can look at the beauty of this place that I’ve been hearing about,” said Margaret Wilcher of Harrisonburg, whose daughter works as a phlebotomist at RMH. “I know I may visit sometime and I might be a patient, so I wanted to check things out.”

Harrisonburg resident Cheryl Plank was impressed to see the state-of-the-art equipment and the private rooms with large windows. “It’s all in a beautiful setting for healing and recovery,” she said. “Bringing the hospital’s specialized medical care, treatment, services and rehab under one roof will keep patients local, which will benefit families and the community at large.”

Juanita Taylor, who was an RMH employee for 61 years and has also volunteered at RMH for 49 years, is excited about serving in the new hospital. She will volunteer in the gift shop and in the critical care waiting room. “I’m very happy with this new facility,” she said. “I hope everybody will support it because it’s wonderful.”

Former RMH president and CEO Carter Melton Jr., who oversaw the early phases of planning and construction on the new hospital, was excited about the outcome.

“I think it’s absolutely beautiful,” he said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be able to build a hospital from the ground up. Because medical care delivery changes so much over the years, you can end up with a patchwork of facilities. So for the community to have a brand-new hospital that’s designed for the contemporary delivery of medical care—that’s a huge deal.”

The new facility will open for patient care on June 22. All patients from the old facility, about 3 miles away, will be moved to the new facility by ambulance beginning at 7 a.m. The new Emergency Department also will open at 7 a.m.

Hospital officials anticipate moving around 110 patients using 24 volunteer ambulances from the region.

“We have had overwhelming support from the local community and EMS providers,” said Donna Wilmoth, co-coordinator of the patient move. “Our staff has made careful, detailed preparations for many months, and we are ready to conduct a safe and efficient move.”