The Inova HealthPlex in Lorton will open Monday, and dignitaries assembled on Friday for a ribbon-cutting. The $26 million facility has a 24/7 emergency room, operating rooms, radiology and laboratory services, 24 patient-care bays and 16 in-patient waiting rooms.

"This is a big deal," said U.S. Congressman Jim Moran (D-8th) at the event. "Every single one of us is going to have our life affected at one point by the quality of the healthcare that's available to us."

The 16-bed Lorton Healthplex, which is located just off the Lorton Road exit off Interstate 95, is part of the Inova Mount Vernon hospital, and patients who need to stay the night will be transferred via ambulance to Mount Vernon. It will be the second Healthplex in Fairfax County, joining the Springfield facility, which opened in 2005. It will have 13 full-time employees and on-site/on-call physicians. 

"We're living through very difficult times and it's wonderful to have us today focusing on growth and continuing to expand and meet community needs," said Mark Stoddard, president and CEO of the Inova Health System. "This really is meeting the needs of the Lorton region with unbelievable services." 

The facility will join Inova Fairfax Hospital in using the electronic medical record EpicCare program. It's anticipated that the Healthplex will see up to 8,000 patient visits in the first year. 

"To say we're excited about being here today and having this happen is an understatement," said Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerry Hyland. "I don't think there's anything that I've been privileged to be involved with that is as satisfying and that I have such a good feeling about as to have this facility in Lorton."  

The Healthplex will be a welcome addition to Lorton, said Gloria Bannister, president of the South County Federation. "It's a good thing," she said. 
"It's much needed and will be great for the community." 

Construction of the Lorton Healthplex is phased: 

• Phase I: First-floor construction to house the 24/7 emergency room, 24-patient care bays, 16 in-patient waiting room capacity. Construction of a 25,000 square-foot second floor to accommodate future offices, operating rooms and an ambulatory surgery center will be completed in a year.
• Phase II: Construction of a five-story, 150,000 square foot medical office building. 
• Phase III: Construction of a four-story, 75,000 square foot building for medical-related services. Construction of a parking structure.

The Healthplex will hold an open house on Saturday, March 2, from 10 a.m - 1 p.m.

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