"Excited and happy."

Those were the two most common words spoken Wednesday afternoon as local officials and executives with Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital cut the ribbon on the new OLBH Urgent Care Center.

The 3,000 square foot facility will not actually begin serving patients until Nov. 3, but the advance ceremony gave OLBH representatives to show off the new addition and introduce its staff to the community.

"We heard loud and clear from the community that there was a need for an urgent care," OLBH vice president for external affairs Michael Stautberg said of the urgent care's opening. "We are happy to bring this to fruition."

His sentiments were echoed by Ironton Mayor Bob Cleary, who said the opening of the urgent care is the first step in a three part promise that OLBH made to the community- the hospital also has plans to move 55 jobs from its headquarters in Russell, Ky., to the Ironton City Center, and has established a Blue Ribbon panel to determine what can and should be done with the old River Valley Hospital building. Cleary said he hopes to have a contract between the two entities signed by the beginning of the new year. And he thinks the Blue Ribbon panel might be ready to make a recommendation on the future of the old hospital by that time as well.

"I thank Our Lady of Bellefonte Hospital for that commitment," Cleary said. "I am excited and happy today."

In blessing the new facility, Rev. Thomas Nau, pastor of St. Lawrence O'Toole and St. Joseph churches read from the gospel of St. Matthew of how Jesus Christ healed the sick comforted the afflicted. Nau prayed that Christ's devotion to mankind would inspire those who work at the urgent care to continue His work on earth.

"Make this place a house of blessing and a center of love," Nau prayed.

Afterward, those who attended the ceremony toured the facility. The new urgent care is located in the same building as the OLBH Diagnostic Imaging Center. Stautberg said the two sides will work independently of one another but will work in cooperation with each other.

The new facility has seven examination rooms, one that will be equipped with minor trauma equipment. It will provide basic emergency treatment for injuries and illnesses, including bone fractures, sprains, athletic injuries, stitches, infections, pneumonia, sore throats and influenza. The staff may also perform physical examinations.

Dr. Nino Dilullo, medical director for the urgent care, said 18 physicians will initially rotate at the site, with one or two eventually being located there full-time.

Initially, the center will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.

The urgent care center will initially create 8 to 10 new full-time positions that include lab technicians, nurses, office staff and administrative positions. American Urgent Care, Ltd., will operate the facility for OLBH.

Walk-ins are welcome, and the staff hopes to have a turn around time of one hour.

A grand opening is planned for early December.