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Wilkes Regional Medical Centre in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, US has opened a new emergency department, and a new heart centre.

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Winston-Salem's Shelco Incorporation has served as the general contractor of the project. The entryway of the new emergency unit is positioned directly in front of the current emergency room. The new unit will comprise a reception space, waiting area, and ten new patient rooms.

The new area forms part of the hospital’s 9,500 square feet expansion which will create a bed capacity of 29 in the emergency department. The emergency wing has expanded 88 feet into the adjacent parking lot as part of the project.

The project also involves creation of a covered patient loading and unloading area in the parking space. Construction is underway on a new parking space for the emergency department adjacent to the current lot which is due to complete work by mid-August 2012.

The existing emergency wing will now undergo a two-phase makeover. Phase I is expected to be over by August 2012 with the second phase due for completion by 2012 end. Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center provided a sum of nearly $10 million to Wilkes Regional to construct the new emergency wing.

The new heart centre covers an area of 2,200 square feet and is located beside the new emergency department.