Cartersville Medical Center moves forward with a $30 million expansion that will double the patient capacity of its emergency room, upgrade existing patient rooms and add new ones.

The hospital held a groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 23 and hospital CEO Keith Sandlin said the project ushers in an exciting time for him and his staff.

“It’s really exciting for us to finally get this project to this point,” Sandlin said. “We’re just chomping at the bit to get the shovels in the dirt and get construction started.”

The emergency room will expand from 18 to 32 rooms and allow space for a CT scanner. Also, a new floor will be added to the 2 North wing of the hospital adding 20 new rooms.

In all, the project will add about 25,000 square feet to the hospital Sandlin said.

Existing rooms will be remodeled and the end result will be private rooms for all patients Sandlin said.

The project “is a real patient satisfier,” and also will include a new façade for the hospital and updates, which will give the facility a more modern look Sandlin said.

“This project is for and about our patients,” Sandlin said.

Sandlin said the expansion will help since the patient volume in 2012 is expected to reach 50,000 in the emergency room.

“[That’s] an incredible size number for our hospital,” Sandlin said.

Cartersville Mayor Matt Santini remarked on the significance of this project and the impact Sandlin and his staff have had on the extended Bartow County community.

“The impact on our community is great,” Santini said.

Sandlin said the project is boost to the local economy.

“In addition to allowing our 150 medical staff members, our physicians and our 700 employees to more efficiently take care of our patients in a more comfortable setting, this is also a significant economic impact to our hospital,” Sandlin said.

He said the project is a $26 million capital investment to the hospital and to the community creating jobs and increasing the property tax base.

“We’re excited to be a good corporate citizen,” Sandlin said.