TIFTON — Construction has reached the halfway point at Tift Regional Health System’s new musculoskeletal center, located at 2224 Hwy. 41 North.

The halfway point was celebrated with a “topping out party,” which is a traditional event at the halfway point of large construction projects.

Attendees were treated to a luncheon and toured the building, which is still under construction.

The building, which is scheduled to be complete spring 2018, is three stories and 80,000 square feet.

Cauthen Construction out of Valdosta put on the party, which was attended by hospital staff and members of the hospital board.

The new, state-of-the-art building will consolidate outpatient orthopedic, rheumatology, neurology, pain management and rehabilitation services into one facility, according to a TRHS press release.

Claire Byrnes, senior vice president of ambulatory services for TRHS, said that this new building will streamline the patient experience.

“The orthopedic service line will all be housed here,” she said. “We’ll have orthopedic surgery on the first floor along with the Georgia Sports Medicine Clinic.”

She said that the second floor will house arthritic clinics, such as rheumatology, pain management, chiropractic and neurology, which are currently housed in Affinity Clinic.

The third floor will be devoted to physical therapy.

“For those with musculoskeletal needs, it’s kind of a one-stop shop,” she said.

Byrnes said that the Georgia Sports Medicine Clinic will be the first thing to move in, clearing its current location for more capital outlay projects.

She said that the more room they have, the more physicians they can bring in, which will in turn enable TRHS to treat more patients, decrease wait times to see an orthopedic surgeon and consolidate the entire experience.

“It gives patients the opportunity to not have such a disjointed experience,” she said. “Most people who are seeing an orthopedic surgeon are also seeing a physical therapist, maybe seeing a chiropractor or neurologist.

“It’s really about a better patient experience,” she added. “It’s about people being able to get care closer to home.”

Kyle Fleck, a new orthopedic surgeon recently hired at the clinic was at the party to view the space where his new office will be.

He said that he saw the plans for the new office and is ready for the space to be completed.

“I think it’s going to be fantastic,” he said. “When you walk into a nice, new, clean building it sets the tone for a visit to go well, I think.”

Chris Efaw, vice president of outreach and development, said that the Georgia Sports Medicine Clinic has been a victim of it’s own success.

“With the current offices they’re just jam packed, so this will have better patient flow, be more inviting to patients,” he said.

Byrnes agreed, saying this is proof that TRHS is growing in a time where many, if not most, rural hospitals are either downsizing or closing.

Jimmy Allen, chairman of the Tift Regional Hospital Authority, said the facility is about a $22 million facility.

“We’re hoping this is going to be like a center for orthopedics located here along the interstate,” Allen said. “We’re regional by nature. Only about half of our business comes from Tift County, the rest comes from the surrounding counties, so this is part of our strategy to be regional in nature.”

Follow Eve Guevara on Twitter @EveGuevaraTTG.