2005 Press Releases
Rome Memorial Hospital Offers Free Valet Service for Patients and Patients’ Visitors ROME – Rome Memorial Hospital will offer free valet parking for patients and their visitors starting Monday, Oct. 31, to provide easy access to the hospital’s services while the new Emergency Department is under construction. “We recognize the inconvenience and safety issues associated with this major construction project,” said President and CEO Darlene Burns, MS, RN. “The project will require several of our parking spaces to be taken out of service. To offset any inconveniences, we are offering the free valet service to our patients and their visitors to continue to make them feel welcome. Our patients and their families are our number one priority.” Curbside Valet service will be available at the hospital’s main entrance at 1500 N. James St. Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Drivers can drop their car off in the main circle where the valet attendant will provide them with a claim tag and park the car for them. When the driver is ready to leave, the attendant will retrieve the car. According to Mrs. Burns, valets were selected based upon a clean background check and their ability to provide good customer service. “A valet does more than just park cars. He or she is the friendly face that greets you when you arrive, helps you out of the car if you need assistance, and provides you with directions to help you find your way,” she said. “We have an aging population and many of our patients have difficulties walking long distances because of an injury or illness. The free valet service will make their visit to the hospital easier,” Mrs. Burns added. The hospital will break ground on its new $6.5 million Emergency Department Oct. 25 and expects the new facility to be completed by the end of 2006. The new construction will nearly triple the size of the hospital’s Emergency Department from 3,700 square feet to 10,500 square feet. The project includes an additional 10,500 square feet of space below and approximately 8,000 square feet above the new Emergency Department to address other space shortage issues identified in the hospital’s recent facility master plan. The hospital expects to complete its new 4,500 square foot Energy Center in November. The facility will house new emergency generators, electrical switchgear, controls, boilers and water system chillers. Relocating the underground utilities and electric service to the energy center was necessary to accommodate the additional load of the hospital’s new Emergency Department. For additional information about the valet service, please call the hospital’s Public Relations Department at 337-5309. | 