The physical therapists in the Rehab Services Department at Bay Area Hospital are delighted with their new digs.

About a month ago, they moved to a new addition of the hospital, to the right of the main entrance.

Construction began about a year ago, according to Dudi Wittwer, the manager of Rehab Services, who said they were happily surprised when the initial plan to create room for storage had been expanded.

“They thought about putting an outpatient clinic on one side of it,” Wittwer said. “We were the lucky ones.”

The new 2,500-square-foot department has four treatment rooms, whereas the old space only had two treatment rooms. Now there are lockers where patients can store their belongings, a place to hang coats and plenty of room in the gym area, so even those in wheelchairs can get around easily. The cost for the new Rehab Services Department was about $900,000. The old space was utilized by adding more patient beds.

Four therapists, each specializing in a specific discipline, gathered around, eager to talk about the new area.

“There’s so much more space,” said Raleigh Clough, a manual therapist, as he was doing hands-on treatment on a patient’s neck. “We’d been squeezed into a pretty small space. We were crawling over equipment. The patients seem to be more happy.”

The old department had an outdated whirlpool room, said Barbie Haines, a physical therapist and wound specialist.

“We were trying to get away from the whirlpools, because there’s better ways to treat wounds,” Haines said.

Sally Ann Shipstad, an occupational therapist who treats people with lymphedema, a build-up of fluid in the body, said the new addition makes it possible to be “organized and professional.”

One room features a low-level laser machine that aids with tissue healing.

“It’s a quick way to get better results,” Wittwer said. “It gets deeper down into inflammation.”

In another room, a simulated kitchen is making progress with a growing collection of appliances — so far, a microwave, dishwasher and refrigerator.

“Then (patients) can simulate what they do at home and we can see what they’ll be able to do,” Wittwer said. “I’ve been waiting a long time. It’s been nice.”

Wittwer, who started at Bay Area Hospital 17 years ago as a therapist, said last year she was able to hire four new therapists.

“We’ve really grown,” she said. “I just think the demand is here.”

But having more space was just one of the reasons for relocating.

Rehab Services moved from the third floor, which was located about as far away from the front entrance of the hospital as possible.

“We had patients who would be exhausted by the time they walked through Emergency,” Clough said.

“Now they can park right outside,” Teresa Murrell, an occupational therapist, hands and pediatric specialist agreed.

She said the new location makes a lot of sense because their patients, who are mostly physically limited, can park near the door. And there’s a ramp outside for easy accessibility.

“They just have to walk in the door and they’re there,” Wittwer said. “It just makes it all better for the patient.”

An open house will take place 9 a.m. to noon, Monday, Jan. 21 at the Rehab Services Department, Bay Area Hospital, 1775 Thompson Road, Coos Bay. For more information, those interested can call Dudi Wittwer, manager of Rehab Services at 269-8003.