FORT HOOD (Now designated Fort Cavazos), Texas – The new Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center (CRDAMC) is set to open for patient care Sunday here.
On April 3, the emergency, labor & delivery, lab, radiology, pharmacy, the main operating room will be staffed and ready to provide care in both facilities, ensuring there is no break in access to care for the community. Cut off time for admission to the old facility is 7 a.m.
“If you are in labor at 6:50 on April 3, you will be admitted and cared for in the old facility,” Col. Mark W. Thompson, CRDAMC commander recently told a group of community members. “But if you are in labor at 7:01 a.m. you will be admitted to the new hospital.” “Our goal is to deliver the first baby on the fourth floor of the new hospital not in the parking lot,” he said.
The Emergency Department (ED) in the old facility will also close at 7 a.m. Sunday. Patients with emergency needs should follow the same directions as those in labor. If you need care before 7a.m. go the old facility. After 7:00 a.m., all patients requiring care in the ED should report to the new facility.
In addition to signs around the old hospital, Soldiers and staff members will man entry points and parking lots to help direct individuals to the right location.
Inpatients will also be moved to the new hospital on Sunday. CRDAMC staff held two patient- move exercises, in addition to the two Day in the Life events. Patient movement should be a fairly smooth experience, especially since a robust squad of physicians, nurses, emergency responders, and members of the patient administration team are well rehearsed and ready to execute the mission.
With more than 5,000 parking spaces and way-finding icons on the outside of garages, visitors will find parking more accessible at the new facility. Patients and visitors should park and enter the near their clinic’s way-finding icon.
When asked what final information the community might need, Thompson replied, “Knowing when the ED and labor & delivery will close are two very important points; however, community members should also know that during those final hours of transitioning from the old facility to the new we will continue to ensure the delivery of safe, quality healthcare.”
