As Chancery Clerk Tillmon Bishop alluded to in his commentsThursday, a growing hospital and a growing community gohand-in-hand.

In pursuing a $12 million expansion and renovation, King’sDaughters Medical Center officials are further developing a growinghospital to better serve a growing community. The project willinclude a new emergency room, an intensive care unit addition, newpatient rooms and several other improvements.

With an influx of Katrina evacuees who have chosen to makeBrookhaven their homes and other population additions, the hospitalis growing to meet the quality health care needs of a largercitizenry.

But the expansion and renovation project stands to provide otherbenefits as well.

On the economic development front, having strong health carefacilities is an important consideration when business and industryconsider where to locate or relocate. In addition, the expansionhas the potential to attract more doctors with varied specialties,which in turn would further enhance KDMC’s reputation as a qualityhealth care provider.

As with any worthwhile endeavor, there often comes someinconvenience. In this case, that will be parking pattern changesthat staff, patients and visitors will have to endure during theproject.

Any short-term difficulties, though, will pay long-termdividends in the form of better health care facilities and betterservice for patients as KDMC and the community it serves growstogether for the future.