King’s Daughters Medical Center is looking to expand its sizeand services if approved for an approximately $10 million bondingissue through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Phillip Grady, chief executive officer of KDMC, said the planscall for a “significant renovation” of the facilities, mostly onthe western side of the complex.

Although still in the planning stages, under consideration are anew emergency department, intensive care unit, and a 10-bed patientunit as well as the renovation of the existing patient rooms. Theproject will also add a sprinkler system for fire suppression tothe second and third floors, a new pharmacy and a heliport.

Many of the changes will occur with the transplantation ofseveral of those services to a tower building to be constructed onthe western side of the facility. Others, such as an improvedambulance service entrance to streamline efficiency, will beincorporated during the construction of the tower.

Renovations of the second and third floors of the hospital willbe extensive, Grady said. The second floor was built in 1963 withthe third floor added the next year. Any changes to those floorswould require the hospital to make them meet 2005 buildingspecifications.

“It’s a good project for our community,” said Kenny Goza, amember of the hospital’s board of directors and a former presidentof the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce.

The hospital sought the approval of county supervisors Monday to”get the go-ahead” on the project because KDMC leases the buildingfrom the county.

The next step, Grady said, is to apply for the USDA revenuebonds. The total cost of the project is estimated at around $10million and will be secured through $2.1 million in cash from KDMCwith an additional $1 million by the hospital in new equipmentcosts.

The bonds would not effect the county, Grady said.

“The bond would be paid solely by hospital revenue,” said DeanSnider, chief financial officer of KDMC.