Having quality health care facilities is a key component of a strong community.

     Maintaining them is equally vital.

     For that reason, Lincoln County supervisors’ partnership with King’s Daughters Medical Center to secure a grant for roof repairs at the hospital is a good move for not only KDMC, but for the community as a whole.

      Lincoln County officials and KDMC obtained a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant from the state to replace a roof that one hospital official estimated was around 25 years old. The grant requires a 10 percent local match, which the hospital is covering. And work is expected to begin in January.

     Engineering officials said grant requirements called for continuing capital improvements and jobs for low- to moderate-income citizens. Mentioning staffing cutbacks enacted a few years ago, hospital officials expect to meet grant requirements associated with the improvement project.

     For years, the Willing Hearts Circle, the King’s Daughters Foundation and KDMC physicians and staff have strived to provide first-class medical facilities for Brookhaven, Lincoln County and the surrounding area.

     Through millions of dollars in renovation projects, constant work to recruit new physicians in more specialty areas and other efforts, our medical sector has achieved something that this community can look to with pride. Visitors to our area have commented on the first-class facilities available for a community of this size.

     KDMC’s measures of success are not limited to just communities of similar size. Hospital officials can trumpet their ranking in the top 10 percent nationwide in patient care experience.

     Such accolades do not come easily.

     It takes the combined efforts of hospital administrators, physicians and staff and community leaders at large. For that, we can all feel especially blessed and thankful.