By Carol Cole
The Norman Transcript


The red carpet led to not-so-red Oklahoma dirt — the site of the groundbreaking Tuesday on the new $110 million Norman Regional HealthPlex.

“One, two, three — hooray,” was the cry as hospital leaders sunk in their gold-colored shovels and sent dirt flying, with the bright fall sun glinting off the leaders’ shiny, white hard hats as they stood in front of a yellow Komatsu bulldozer at Interstate 35 and Tecumseh Road.

The groundbreaking coincides with Norman Regional Hospital’s 60th anniversary, being celebrated this week.

“We’re excited about this milestone in our 60-year history of providing for health care needs for the community,” said David Whitaker, president and CEO of Norman Regional Health System, under a big white tent adorned with purple and white balloons. “We have a long history of providing service for those in need.”

He said the hospital has a wonderful, dedicated group of people who have come together under the banner of Norman Regional Health System.

“It’s a time to rededicate ourselves,” Whitaker said. “We’re going to be here 60 years from today.”

The vision for the new campus was born in a February 2004 strategic planning session, over concern about the state of Oklahomans’ generally poor health.

The goal of the group was ambitious — “to be nationally recognized as one of the healthiest places to live,” said Chuck Thompson, chairman of the Norman Regional Hospital Authority.

A 25-year master plan was crafted, not just focusing on facilities, but focusing on patients and personnel.

“It is a plan for building the healthiest community,” Thompson said. “For our parents, grandparents and especially for our children.”

The plan has three “pillars.”

Thompson said one is to be nationally recognized as one of the best hospitals in America.

That appears to be working. Many months at Norman Regional Hospital Authority meetings, there is another announcement of a national or regional award for clinical quality improvement in areas like pneumonia suppression or smoking cessation.

Others pillars include being the hospital of choice for patients, physicians and hospital professionals and having world-class facilities with the most advanced technology.

“It is unusual and unique for community-based hospital staff to all get on one page,” Chief of Staff Dr. Aaron Boyd said. “Being other places, you realize how very special it is.”

Mayor Harold Haralson, a Norman physician, said he grew up near the hospital back in the early years of Norman Municipal Hospital.

The hospital started in 1946 with 61 beds and 29 employees. Now it boasts about 2,300 employees and 337 beds.

“Today, our community and our hospital is about to make a major leap forward in size and service to our community,” Haralson said.

Construction is expected to take two years with the HealthPlex opening in late 2008. Women’s and children’s services, cardiology, orthopedics and neurosurgery will be the focus of the new facility, which will free up space in the original Porter Avenue campus for other services.

Thompson said one of the reasons Norman Regional is successful is that it is a community hospital operated by a public trust, one of only three in the state.

“The primary difference is operating a health care system to promote a healthy population rather than operating a hospital to make a profit,” he said.

Thompson said Norman Regional Health System receives no tax support, in contrast to most community hospitals that are financially independent.

“A better use of local resources for the benefit of the community,” he said. “Norman Regional, as a public trust, has as its core duty, the promotion of the health and welfare of the communities that are served — creating longer, healthier lives.”

Plans include remodeling and updating the original Porter Avenue campus.

“Our long-term goal is we should strive to put ourselves out of business,” Whitaker said.