KOAM TV 7 Joplin and PittsburgNew facility helps Freeman with increased demand on patient care

New facility helps Freeman with increased demand on patient care

Freeman Hospital on Friday cut the ribbon on its Transitional Care Unit, what Freeman refers to as a step-down ICU.  The TCU will provide more beds to patients waiting to be placed in the ICU which has been close to capacity since the tornado.

Freeman says the facility will help doctors take on more critical patients and provide an economic boost to Joplin.

"This is huge for the community - this is something the community has called for and have been working on," says Allen Overturf of Freeman Health Systems.  "With the tornado there has been a rush, something that would have taken a much longer time, we are pressing forward two months because there is such a demand."

Freeman will begin admitting patients to the TCU on Monday.