Marianna- Construction crews stayed busy Wednesday working on a major expansion project at Jackson Hospital in Marianna.

"It's exciting and it's space that we've needed for years," said Physician Assistant Danielle Johnson.

Johnson said with the new addition in the emergency room, everyone will see a difference.

"We are a small community, but we're rapidly growing and the health care needs of the community are growing also. It's really going to move patient flow and improve patient care," said Johnson.

The more than three thousand eight hundred square foot expansion includes nearly double the number of E.R. beds, a double ambulance bay, and a new decontamination area.

"It's a very big upgrade in progress," said Emergency Medical Director Murray Baker.

Baker, who's a veteran or around 20 years with the hospital, said more space isn't the only addition.

"The newer technology we'll have digital radiography, which we already have, but it'll be in both places. There will be better monitors, the computer system will be upgraded," said Baker.

The Jackson Hospital Foundation also started a new fundraising tradition along with the expansion project.

A gold and silver tree now sits at the hospital and on the leaves are things needed there, everything from equipment to fill an entire room, to more simpler items like a light fixture.

The project cost an estimated seven and a half million dollars, all of which the hospital raised itself. That's because it's an independent organization and doesn't rely on tax dollars. Everything is expected to be completed by the end of May.