St. Vincent’s Chilton celebrated its upcoming opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday. The hospital has not opened to patients yet, but that date will be announced soon.

“We’re about the healing ministry of Jesus Christ and that is what helps get us through every day,” St. Vincent’s Chilton Administrator Suzannah Campbell said. “We are about providing care not just for the body, but for the mind and spirit as well. We pray with and for our patients, and that is what sets us apart.”

The Alabama Department of Public Health came Thursday and performed a survey and recommended that the hospital be approved for licensure.

“As soon as we have that in hand, we will announce our opening date,” Campbell said. “Things are falling into place.”

Chilton County had been absent of a hospital for the past five years, about the time that it took for St. Vincent’s Chilton to make the transition from idea to reality.

“It has been an exciting and emotional week, knowing how much everyone has put into getting this hospital ready for patient care,” Campbell said. “

According to Campbell, it is time for the staff to take over and do what they know best, which is looking out for the best interest of the patients.

Hundreds of people came from throughout the county to take part in the event by thanking those who had a hand in the construct and taking self-guided tours through the facility.

“This is just amazing,” said Neeysa Biddle, Senior Vice President, Ascension Health and Birmingham Market Executive. “We anticipated it may 400, but there were many more than that here today. It just shows the commitment toward this project.”

The hospital will include 30 beds, 24 for acute care and six are reserved for the intensive care unit, as well a full radiology-imaging suite with capability to perform such tests as MRIs, nuclear medicine, mammography and ultrasound.

“Outpatient testing is going to be a big help,” Clanton city councilman and doctor Jeffrey Price said. “The convenience of getting a test the next day instead of waiting a week will be much more efficient.”

There will also be a full service emergency department that will be open 24 hours a day and seven days a week and an outpatient services office that physicians can practice specialists.

“This hospital with only be successful with the continued support from the community,” Campbell said. “It’s gotten us this far, and I can’t wait to see it moving forward.”