Lines leading from the new Gulf Coast Medical Center in south Fort Myers looked more like the line for a ride at Disney World than for a hospital tour.
But, crowds came to take in all the new facility, walking around the 436,000 square feet of new construction in groups of 20.
Rose Digiorgio, 69, said she came to see it for peace of mind.
“Nobody wants to go to the hospital, but it’s great to know it’s here if you need it,” she said. “Plus the building is beautiful.”
The groups tours began in radiology and weaved around wide hallways offering glimpses of new technology and equipment in each area.
Denise Krause-Larsen, 53, a registered nurse of 28 years, was thrilled by the pre-operating rooms.
One of 10 that work in the recovery unit at Southwest Florida Regional Medical center, she will be transferred to Gulf Coast when the facility opens in March.
“It’s so big, and we’ll be able to be right next to the patients, which is really good,” she said.
“They’ve really thought about what we need as a staff.”