Preview Of The Lakewood Family Health Center, Open House Planned

LAKEWOOD, OH — Completion of the Lakewood Family Health Center (LFHC) is in the homestretch with the facility expected to be fully operational by the end of July. LFHC Director, Dr. James Hekman reached out to Patch and offered to give us a tour of the new facility.

Progress on the construction of the LFHC has been moving along at a brisk pace since ground was broken in April last year. The new facility is located at 14601 Detroit Avenue where the Lakewood Professional Building and a parking garage for Lakewood Hospital once stood.

All of the walls, doors and some of the carpeting is now in place, for all intents and purposes, the LFHC will be ready to go once all of the furniture and equipment is moved in.

The tour began by entering though the emergency entrance, Dr. Hekman pointed out that ambulance services would be entering from St. Charles. One of the first things you'll notice about LFHC, especially in the exam rooms, is the abundance of natural light coming in through the windows.

The first floor of the LFHC is home to the 24/7 full-service Emergency Department with the ambulance entrance and treatment rooms. Some of the other services include a bariatric treatment room, behavioral health and a decontamination room.

Also located of the first floor are imaging, ultrasound, mammogram, x-ray and CT services.

Located in in corridor along the north side of the building facing Detroit Ave. is an art wall which will be dedicated to community-based art. The art installations will be visible from the sidewalk in front of the LFHC.

Clearly, the LFHC is committed to showcasing Lakewood community art. Last year, shortly after groundbreaking for the center, Dr. Hekman and Lakewood City Schools Superintendent, Jeff Patterson unveiled large banners featuring 50 images of Lakewood student artwork which have been on display in front of the construction site on Detroit Ave.

The second floor is home to the Center for Family Medicine. Featured on the second floor are exam rooms (including bariatric exam room), a family consult room, shared medical appointment room and an alternative medicine room.

In addition to treatment rooms, the second floor also has a conference room which will be used for teaching and continuing education.

The lab is located on the third floor of the LFHC and right now, it is one of the only rooms with equipment. In addition to the lab the following serices are available on the third floor:

Multi-Specialty Exam Rooms for:

• Geriatrics
• Dermatology
• Diabetes Education
• Endocrinology
• Endocrinology Surgery
• Pulmonary
• Pulmonary Function Testing
• Allergy
• Neurology
• Cardiology
• Urology
• Nephrology
• General Surgery
• Pediatric Surgery
• Colorectal Surgery
• Gastroenterology
• Adult Psychiatry
• Pediatric Psychiatry
• Adult Psychology

Also on the third floor are the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) Center, pulmonary function testing and an allergy/skin testing room.

In its current unfurnished and unpainted state, it requires a bit of imagination to visualize the facility as it will look once open, but a lot of activity is planned between now and the end of July when the LFHC is slated to open.

The Lakewood Family Health Center will be opened in three stages beginning with the third floor on July 11, the second floor opening on July 16 and the first floor and Emergency Department opening on July 24 and 25. The Emergency Department in its current location will remain open until the new location opens.

An open house is planned for June 30 from 1-5 p.m. All members of the community are welcome to take self-guided tours of the new facility. Healthy snacks and beverages will be on hand.

Main photo by Rick Uldricks/Patch