It’s been more than 30 months since planning first began for the new Ripon Medical Center on the city’s east side. Now it’s under 30 days and Medical Center Chief Operating Officer Kathryn Vergos says plans are now focusing on facilitating a smooth move from the existing Newbury Street facility to the new hospital at Parkside Street, off Highway 23. “We have built a brand new facility for the communities that we serve. So we are moving into our brand new facility starting next week,” Vergos told AM 1170 WFDL’s Between the Lines program. Vergos says to help facilitate the move, Ripon Medical Center has set a 10-day move plan. Starting next Tuesday. On December 9 at 5 p.m., Ripon Medical Center will stop admitting patients working with other area facilities, including sister hospital, Waupun Memorial Hospital, to transfer patients from the Emergency Department by ambulance. Vergos says next Friday many outpatient services, will be closing early. Then, on Saturday, December 13, Ripon Medical Center leaders will be closely watching for any expecting mothers that might present to the hospital for a delivery. That will guide their decisions regarding the starting time to move the remainder of hospital services. When the decision to move hospital services is made on December 13, inpatient services will begin their move – with half of each department (emergency, surgery) moving first, and once settled, the second half will relocate.
