FOLEY – Baldwin Health marked another milestone in its ongoing growth with the dedication of the new Wayne T. Smith Atrium, the centerpiece of the hospital’s latest expansion.
The new atrium serves as the main entrance and lobby for the Foley hospital and is part of a $200-million expansion that also includes a five-story patient tower with advanced surgical facilities, a women’s and children’s unit, and additional inpatient beds to meet the needs of a growing community.
With a team of more than 1,200 employees and a network of medical clinics, Baldwin Health provides care through over 409,000 patient encounters each year.
Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the new facility is a reflection of the community’s strength and dedication to quality healthcare.
“This facility reflects what our community is all about,” Hellmich said. “This hospital is one of the finest in Alabama, and it’s because of the people and the quality of care that make it that way.”
He added that the hospital’s excellence in healthcare continues to attract new residents to South Baldwin County.
Baldwin Health CEO Dr. Margaret Roley said the project was the culmination of a decade of planning and collaboration.
“We started this discussion about the tower and the hospital 10 years ago,” she said. “It’s such an incredible, exciting day to see it all come together.”
Roley expressed gratitude to the hospital staff and community members who supported the project, calling them the foundation of the hospital’s success.
“You are the heartbeat of this organization,” she said. “Through every challenge, you’ve continued to perform at the highest level of care.”
The atrium is named in honor of Wayne T. Smith, chairman of the Board of Directors for Community Health Systems (CHS), which has operated the Foley hospital since 2000.
State Rep. Frances Holk-Jones, chair of the Baldwin Health Board of Directors, presented legislative resolutions to Smith and Roley recognizing their leadership and contributions to healthcare in Baldwin County.
Clark Stewart, chair of the Baldwin County Healthcare Authority, said CHS’s investment and commitment have transformed healthcare in the region.
“What CHS has brought to and invested in this hospital far exceeds anyone’s wildest dreams,” Stewart said. “We’re standing right in the middle of that investment today.”
The dedication of the Wayne T. Smith Atrium marks another step forward in Baldwin Health’s mission to provide exceptional medical care for the residents of Foley and Baldwin County.