Twenty-four years after opening East Texas Medical Center in Athens, the hospital has broken ground on a $32 million expansion.

“This is a profoundly important day in the life of ETMC Athens,” Administrator Pat Wallace said. “By executing these plans, we’re upholding the commitment we made to Henderson County back in 1982 when we entered into a partnership.

“The relationship established with the Henderson County Hospital Authority — our landlord — continues strong to this day.”

The two-year project is a series of phases as the southwest corner of the hospital is expanded with a 55,600-square-foot wraparound. Twelve-thousand square feet of existing space will be remodeled.

An estimated 100 fulland part-time employees will be hired as targeted departments expand.

“ETMC’s relationship with Athens and Henderson County represents more than 25 years of advancing health-care to the highest level possible for the community,” said Elmer G. Ellis, president and CEO of the East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System.

“This expansion of the beautiful ETMC Athens campus will help us meet the growing needs of the population as part of our mission of care. We are excited to celebrate the groundbreaking, knowing that the new medical space will benefit countless East Texans and our care-giving team for many years to come.”

Among the occupants of the new space will be the emergency department. It will boast 22 exam rooms — up from the current 14 — two state-of-the-art trauma rooms and a private waiting area.

Outside the new emergency room, a multilane canopy will provide shelter for two ambulances and from six to eight cars at a time. Parking will be added to support the ER.

During construction, visitors entering the building at the second floor will gain access via a covered walkway.

Occupying the corner of the new space will be the intensive care unit, which will have two more patient beds than its current eight.

The third department to occupy the new space will be surgery, where a new prep-and-hold area will be available, as will five operating rooms (up from the current three), a recovery area and day surgery space.

“The ER, OB and surgery represent our most pressing needs, and this expansion project addresses those needs quite well,” said Steve Lowe, director of engineering and safety at ETMC Athens. “All the challenges during construc- tion will be well worth it.”

Once the ICU is moved into the new space, the OB department will expand its footprint to include the area occupied by the ICU.

Among the gains for the OB department will be eight additional labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum rooms. The department currently has one LDRP room, which provides a spacious environment where expectant moms can, in most cases, stay throughout their hospital stay.

All the existing postpartum rooms will be refurbished. The radiology department will also expand.

The architect for the project is Hammel, Green & Abrahamson of Minneapolis. The builder is Vaughn Construction Company, LLC of College Station.