Kermit hospital

Kermit is about to enter a new era in health care.

The first phase of the new Winkler County Memorial Hospital is scheduled to open Sunday. It will include a 19-bed critical access medical service, along with a new emergency room and radiology and respiratory therapy areas.

Hospital administrator Stan Wiley said work would then begin on the aspects of the hospital not related to patients. What's left of the current hospital will be torn down to allow for construction of a new location for administration offices, medical records and housekeeping.

In all, the 34,000 square foot hospital is costing $11 million.

The hospital will also include a new 16-slice CT scanner, which Wiley said would take five minutes to perform an exam that takes 45 minutes on the hospital's current one-slice scanner.

The new hospital, along with bringing two new family practice physicians to practice in Kermit, will mean fewer trips to Midland or Odessa for area residents, Wiley said. In all, four doctors will work with the hospital.

"This will give the citizens of Winkler County the opportunity to stay in Winkler County and be closer to their families," he said.

The second phase of construction should conclude by December, Wiley said. So far, work's gone smoothly since it started in July 2007.

"There haven't been any slowdowns, no deadlines missed," he said.

Dr. Kenneth Winton, who practices at the 65-employee hospital, said he's looking forward to the new Winkler County Memorial Hospital.

"As far as equipment, you just can't compare the two," he said. "Everything's just brand new, and that makes a huge difference."

The hospital will mean a good deal for the area, Winton said.

"I really think the people of the community can be really proud," he said. "And that's the most important thing."