Hospitality: Officials update on hospital

The Madison Hospital is scheduled to open February 2012. Mayor Paul Finley hosted a gathering Sept. 15 to celebrate the progress on the new facility.

Dozens of Madison leaders and Madison Hospital officials gathered at the home Mayor Paul Finley and his wife Julie on Sept. 15 to celebrate the progress of the new medical facility.

The new medical complex, which is a division of Huntsville Hospital, is scheduled to open February 2012, and it will feature a 60-bed hospital.

“I’m very excited to be part of the Madison community,” said Huntsville Hospital CEO David Spillers. “We think this is going to be a showcase for the city.”

Spillers said plans are to “quickly” increase capacity to 90 beds, and then hopefully build 30 more for a total of 120 beds.

Spillers also said the search for a president of the new hospital has already begun, and he hopes to select one by January 2011. Plans are also to eventually establish a board of directors.

In addition to adding a hospital to the Madison community, Spillers said the facility should also make a positive economic impact on the city, especially the eastern side.

“We believe this is going to lead to a lot of development around it,” Spillers said. “I think this is going to be a great thing for the city of Madison.”

Mayor Finley agreed.

“When you talk about making a major, major impact on the community and quality of life — that’s the hospital,” Finley said. “They didn’t just come here and build. They came and asked ‘what should it be?’

“We are building a quality of life that’s second to none,” Finley added. “So many great things are happening in Madison.”