Hospital wing dedicated

With the cut of the blue ribbon the ceremony had begun. Approximately 75 people gathered Friday for the Bloomington Hospital and Healthcare System's open house and celebrated the dedication of the new outpatient services, lobby and chapel. \nPresident and CEO of Bloomington Center Mark Moore, Vice President of Support Services Mark Crain and Board Chair Gerry Neely participated in the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon, as Lee CarMichael of Weddle Brothers Construction Company introduced the event.\n"Team work and cooperation (created the addition) for the needs of the patients family," CarMichael said. "(It will be a) land mark for years to come."\nEmployees, volunteers and curious community members were invited to explore the new lobby and chapel from 5 to 7 p.m. Refreshments lined the new lobby, and faculty members greeted everyone and were also available for questioning and tours. \nTen year volunteer LaVon Ison said she was eager to sit behind her new information desk. \n"I always feel like when I go home I have helped someone," Ison said, "(The addition) is a great asset and will enhance and cater to the needs of the doctors of Bloomington. It is beautiful."\nAfter the ribbon cutting ceremony a dedication to the new chapel took place with a short prayer and group song.\n"We dedicate this chapel to be a restful place of prayer, meditation and worship for all people -- Christian or Jew, Muslim or Buddhist, believer or seeker -- all are welcome here," Chaplain Wendy VanderZee said.\nThe main attractions in the chapel were the stained glass windows designed by local artist and teacher Charlotte Paul. \nCrain said the idea for the need of a new lobby and outpatient center came from polls and questionnaires taken from doctors, patients, employees and community members. Through the factual information the hospital received, they devised a plan that involved department volumes and patient needs for the future. Hospital executives then met with the Architectural firm, the Estopinal Group and Weddle Brothers to create an accurate plan.\nThe lobby and chapel is the second of a three-phase addition and renovation of the Bloomington Hospital and Healthcare System. \n"It started as a dream three years ago for a larger more accommodating and convenient outpatient lobby," Moore said at the ceremony. \nTotal renovation will not be completed until spring 2003. \nThe construction totals 100,000 new square feet and a renovation of 100,000 square feet of the existing hospital including a remodeled pediatric ward and a new gift shop amounting to a 25 percent increase. \n"The people in the new spaces are very excited about it," Crain said. "I have gotten nothing but positive feed back"