By Mark Wineka
mwineka@salisburypost.com
SALISBURY – Hefner VA Medical Center officials in Salisbury held ribbon-cutting ceremonies this morning for three sections of Building 42 aimed at improving quality of life and care for veterans, families and staff.
The three projects – a new hospice unit, a “Main Street” area and a “hoptel” – cost $8 million and are the first phase to Building 42’s Long-term Care Center of Excellence Renovations initiative.
Here’s a rundown of the new facilities:
• The hospice unit includes 12 beds with private rooms and baths. The facility includes meditation, family and game rooms. a parlor with a baby grand piano and fireplace, the Carolina Cafe dining area, a separate kitchen area for families, a family suite for overnight stays and outside porches to the rooms, overlooking a pond.
• The Main Street area is a reconfiguration of the Building 42 atrium, creating spots for a theater, town hall meeting room, general store, barber shop, wellness center and other shops. It remains in a parklike setting.
• A renovated area provides for a six-bed hoptel, located in the basement of Building 42. The hoptel provides temporary lodging as a courtesy to veterans who live more than 50 miles away and are on the campus receiving tests and procedures, requiring some time before they drive back home.
Newly appointed Hefner VA Medical Center Director Kaye Green and Daniel Hoffmann, director of the VA Mid-Atlantic Health Care Network, were among the VA officials at this morning’s ceremony.
Salisbury Mayor Paul Woodson and U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., were among the local officials.