POWDERSVILLE - Work is beginning on a new $8 million medical complex which will be offering a variety of services in the Powdersville area early next year.

Baptist Easley Hospital hosted a ground breaking ceremony at the location of their new medical complex Monday at the corner of S.C. Highway 81 and McNeely Road in Powdersville. Officials say the building is scheduled to be up and running in January 2013.

“It should be very friendly to those who live in this community,” said Baptist Easley Hospital CEO Roddey Gettys of the new center. “We’ve always served the Powdersville community, but we knew we needed additional services in this area and we wanted to be able to provide it.”

The complex, which will cover more than 32,000-square feet, will offer a wide range of services to Powdersville residents.

“We’re going to build a major diagnostic primary and secondary care facility,” said Gettys. “We’ll provide diagnostics, CT scans, laboratory services, and an extended-hours clinic for walk-in customers. There will also be space for visiting specialists and orthopedic surgery.”

Baptist Easley Board Chairman Greg Rusnak says the services will increase the hospital’s reach.

“We hope that this will bring convenient access to care,” said Rusnak. “We all understand that we need to be closest to where the population is to be accessible and to be the provider of choice.”

Rusnak says the Powdersville area was an Ideal choice for the new complex because of the expected population growth in upcoming years.

“This is an opportunity to provide an increased amount of care through new providers that are not currently in the market,” said Rusnak. “This is location is in an area that will continue to see growth for many years to come.”

Construction for the new facility will be underway in the coming days, and Rusnak says he is happy to finally have this project on the ball.

“It has been in the works for a long time,” said Rusnak. “It really took the partnership between the Greenville Hospital System and Palmetto Health to be able to bring this to fruition.”

Gettys says the new center is sure to have success in the Powedersville area, and he believes this kind of complex would be beneficial in other communities in the future

“It wouldn’t be unlike us to look at other neighborhoods but this is our primary location for now,” said Gettys. “The success of this center will come from how the folks in this community accept and use our services. We know the folks that come here will be pleased with what they get.”