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Hospital opens curtains to public at grand opening
By Chris Beattie
cbeattie@starlocalnews.com
Games, booths and skits welcomed thousands with laughing fun. Lines of patient participants filled the grounds.
But it wasn’t a typical summer day at the carnival. It was Baylor Medical Center at McKinney’s grand opening, a glimpse of all the hospital will bring to its new surroundings.
The celebration, in and around the hospital on the northwest corner of Lake Forest Drive and U.S. Highway 380, started early with the first Heart of McKinney 5K. More than 250 area residents ran in the event to kick off a day of festivities, almost a week before the hospital officially opens its doors.
Interactive wellness activities dotted the hospital landscape, and informed the public of its soon-to-be available services. Booths manned by physicians from dozens of different medical practices invited guests with open arms and brochures.
Outside, they were treated with games and farmers market wares, a unique welcome and summer healing of sorts before the true healing commences July 6.
“It’s a good way for the community to meet the hospital and the hospital to meet the community – to connect,” said Kelly Maier, the hospital’s director of marketing.
Inside, guests took tours around the hospital, highlighted by explanations of the services offered at each wing. Staff was on hand to discuss the technology and capabilities of each department, including that in the emergency room, day-surgery area and even the lobbies.
More than 2,500 adults and children took in everything they can expect should they ever need to visit the hospital for medical reasons or family support. Marked by blue Baylor Medical Center shirts, hospital staff ushered them down hallways and into operating rooms, excited for their young presence in a needed service area.
“The thing that excites me most about this hospital is the compassion that our staff has and how that will translate into exceptional patient outcomes,” Peek said. “McKinney is a wonderful community, one that is growing, and this hospital was built with that growth in mind, so as the community grows, we can grow with it.”
Physicians – each a member of its medical staff – lined the entrance lobbies to answer questions and provide available resources related to urology, orthopedics, oncology, women’s health and almost every other particular medical service.
Coupled with ongoing health demonstrations, the event promoted measures guests can take to ultimately avoid time at the hospital in the future. But it assured them of the care they will receive if such time is, for whatever reason, unavoidable.
“We really wanted people to be able to look behind the curtains at a hospital,” Peek said, “which you can’t always do once it’s open.”
For a day, the curtains were open, the pain and heartache subsided. Inevitable anxiety and potential mourning were put off, replaced by a celebration.
One for a source of healing here to stay.
“We’re just excited to be a fabric of this community,” Peek said. “We plan to be here for many, many years to come.”
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