SANDPOINT - While construction of the new Bonner General Health hospital building is going smoothly, confusion over how to access established hospital services is a problem.

According to Terri Fortner, BGH community development and foundation director, people are reporting confusion in finding the emergency room and other hospital services. That's primarily due to the construction signs set up to warn of construction zones and blocked streets, she said. The confusion stems from the fact that the signs aren't meant to block access to hospital services - only the inaccessible Third Avenue, which has been torn up for construction work.

Signs on the corner of Second Avenue and Alder Street, for instance, warn drivers of the closed road. Underneath in smaller text, the signs read, "local business only." According to Fortner, people often skim over the secondary message, believing they can't access the hospital at all.

"You're going to see the 'road closed' message but not 'local business only.' That's just human nature," she said.

That's especially true when people are driving to the emergency room in a panic over an injury or illness, Fortner added. Already disconcerted, they'll see the road closure sign and be at a loss for how to access ER services.

The best way to access the hospital emergency room is to drive onto Alder using Second Avenue, weaving around the "local business only" sign. That should put individuals right alongside the ER entrance and parking lot. As for other hospital services, Fourth Avenue is the best street to take toward the main parking lots.

Aside from navigation difficulties, however, Fortner said the construction project is going well. Since construction began in the spring on the three-story, 40,000-square-foot medical office building, the structural skeleton has gradually raised into place. Now workers are beginning to construct the exterior walls and parking lot paving.

Fortner said work will continue throughout the winter as the snow flies, hopefully preparing the building for an official opening in late spring or early summer.

Once it's complete, the new medical office building will address several of BGH's strategic goals. Joined to the primary hospital building by an enclosed skywalk, the medical office building is expected to add new efficiency, resources and conveniences for BGH patients and employees alike.