Vernon Memorial Healthcare in Viroqua is opening the doors to its new, state-of-the-art Therapy Department on the afternoon of Feb. 23.

A gathering will be held in the new Therapy Department lobby at 3 p.m., followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony at 3:15.

The move is a crucial piece to providing the best experience for those patients that utilize the Therapy Department. It will unite the Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapy departments, which are moving from separate areas in Vernon Memorial Hospital to an 11,000 square foot space in the Viroqua Area Medical Office Building.

The merging of the three departments will improve access for patients, increase their privacy and promote collaboration among the therapy staff. Patients will benefit from larger treatment rooms, shorter distances to travel to those rooms and more space for specialty therapy programs. Therapists will no longer have to use public areas in the hospital, such as conference rooms, for things like the LSVT Big and Loud program for patients with Parkinson’s disease.

VMH volunteers will be available to patients who need help finding their way around during this time of change.