By LAUREN WEST

FERRIDAY — Riverland Medical Center officials say they hope to begin construction on their new hospital facility on the east side of Ferriday in September.

The construction is estimated to take 16 to 18 months to complete and will continue all the services provided by Riverland Medical Center, said Jim Graves, hospital board chairman.

The new state-of-the-art facility will be on an approximately 20-acre lot in east Ferriday off of U.S. 84, in the vicinity of Marsala Beverage of Ferriday, 6647 U.S. 84 and Camelot Leisure Living, 6818 U.S. 84.

The new hospital is expected to have 25 beds and will include an emergency room, intensive care unit, diagnostic services, an area dedicated to surgeries and other spaces for in-patient and out-patient care.

In addition, the new building will include separate medical offices devoted to doctors, administrators and IT services.

Graves said the current hospital building is approximately 50 years old.

“It’s time for a new one,” Graves said.

The new hospital’s funding comes from bonds administered through the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development program.

The estimated amount to build the facility is $36 million.

The new hospital is expected to keep patients closer to Concordia Parish and Adams County and offer access to services that patients may otherwise seek in cities such as Monroe, Alexandria or Baton Rouge.

“We want to provide the best care for the people in the area,” Graves said.

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