The groundbreaking ceremony held Wednesday is good news for the area, and a big thank you goes to Dr. Manish Patel for his vision. The 8,600-square-foot facility will house orthopedic and physical therapy offices in one location, and will include private treatment rooms. Partnering with Southampton Memorial Hospital, Dr. Patel says the new facility will allow recruitment for additional specialists — more good news. It will also allow his practice to use the hospital’s new digital records system and include new equipment for therapy services. It will be convenient to the hospital complex, and patients who need the services will be better served by this planned addition. It will be extremely helpful for patients to stay here for advanced treatment without having to drive out-of-town, but most importantly it will be a huge benefit to be treated and rehabilitated all under one roof.

Kudos to all involved — from project engineers to financial backing to hospital administration — who have helped make this vision clearer and one-step closer to a reality.