Haylee Faulk, 7, and her grandmother, Mildred Markum, finish touring Heritage Medical Center during Saturday's Community Preview Day. Says Markum, "It is terrific!" (T-G Photo by John Philleo) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

The rain dampened the grass but not the excitement as hundreds showed up for Heritage Medical Center's Community Preview Day Saturday.

"It is terrific!" exclaimed Mildred Markum after touring the hospital with her granddaughter, Haylee Faulk. "I am so impressed with it. I think everyone in Bedford County should be here looking at it, because it is a wonderful facility."

Markum's daughter, Melody Faulk, is an R.N. in the emergency room at Bedford County General Hospital, and will soon make the move along with the rest of the staff to the new hospital, which is scheduled to open July 12.

Hospital CEO Dan Buckner estimated that at least 600 people had been at the hospital as of early Saturday afternoon, with several hours of the event still ahead.

"The rain hasn't held anybody back," he said, while standing in a hallway with his family at his side. "The people are all energetic."

"This community wants us to be a good hospital, and what a blessing that is to have the community have our backs," he said. "The hospital wants to have the community's back."

He said that as the community gets to see the new hospital and gets to know the staff, they will come to understand that they are not just talking the talk, they are walking the walk.

Buckner said that the medical center has already begun making improvements, pointing out that the hospital, in its current location on Union Street, received a perfect score during a recent state survey.

"We've proven it," he said.

The hospital scored a 97 percent on its Joint Commission inspection this year, and Buckner previously said the hospital's customer satisfaction rating was up 34 percent on its most recent customer survey.

Now that the hospital is poised to move into the new building, better health care and higher customer satisfaction will be even easier to achieve, he said.

"Now we can walk the walk with the technology to support us, and with the facility to support us," he said.

Others on hand, including hospital staff members, hospital supporters and community members, were impressed.

"I'm very proud for Shelbyville," said Jeanine Frye, R.N., who works in the Critical Care Unit after recently returning to Shelbyville following a 40-year absence. "This is awesome. I'm just real proud for our community."

Linda Dickerson, who works in radiology, said "It's going to make a difference."

Myrtle Shields, a Senior Circle member, said she is proud of the medical center.

"I'm so happy that we've got it here, and I hope everyone will support it," she said.

Amber Hale, of Shelbyville, said she will feel more comfortable receiving healthcare at the new facility, which she described as "beautiful."

"It's a whole lot better than the old one," she said. "Everything's new, with more technology and everything."

Visitors munched on hotdogs, chips, cookies and popcorn, all provided by the medical center. The Tullahoma band Soul Session entertained the crowd, and lots of fun activities were available for children.