What prompted the idea for Gaston Memorial to create The Birthplace?
We have always prided ourselves at looking at evidence-based medicine, following current research telling us the best methods for care. We did our homework before the facility and equipment design and the operational plan behind the facility. To make the most out of a significant investment, we believed that we should design a facility that would give us optimal patient outcomes and also be cost-effective because health-care dollars are always a controversial topic. We also wanted to attract and retain high-quality providers. When did you start laying the groundwork for The Birthplace? We started exploring things internally in 1996. We had the certificate of need application filed (with state regulators) and approved in 1999 and started the design process in 2000. Because it includes a neonatal intensive-care unit, two certificates of need were involved. The total cost for the 120,000-square-foot facility and the 760-space parking deck is $84 million. We renovated the radiation/oncolog
