Community Hospital Phase 2 construction nearly complete

McCOOK, Nebraska -- Construction crews are 90-95 percent complete with drywall work on phase two of the Community Hospital expansion project, according to an update provided to the Community Hospital Association Board of Directors during their Dec. 21 meeting. Community Hospital President Jim Ulrich said they are installing ceiling grids and flooring in some areas, including a seamless floor that will be poured in the surgery areas.

"It is going really well and we anticipate the end of February to early March as the time when the hospital will begin gaining some access and be able to start moving into some of those areas," said Ulrich, who added that early April should be when they would be able to deliver surgical care from the new areas.

The expansion will provide highly anticipated enhancements to security and privacy for the hospital. Surgery, labor and delivery and emergency care areas will be accessible via key card only. The changes will also eliminate public contact between the emergency room and operating room areas, which share a public hallway in the current layout.

Once phase two is complete the hospital will gather bids on the remodeling of what is presently the hospital's surgery area, which will be used for respiratory therapy and sleep studies in the future. Ulrich said once that area is remodeled it will also allow for additional chairs for chemotherapy services.

Ulrich was pleased to report that the financing for the first two phases, which includes the surgery area, will be completed within the original projections for the project. "As a review, the project is being financed in three ways; Direct loans from the USDA Rural Development Community Facility Loan fund; the USDA Guarantee program and loans from participating local and area banks; and nearly three million dollars in cash from hospital reserves," said Ulrich. Ulrich summarized the financing as a combination of cash reserves and low interest loans that will be paid back over future years.

"It is a wonderful project that will greatly enhance the quality and availability of healthcare services from Community Hospital for years to come," said Ulrich.

Wayne Watkins of McCook was welcomed as a new member of the Board of Directors during the meeting. Watkins is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Red Willow Animal Clinic and has served on the board in the past. Watkins replaces Marty Conroy who termed out after six years of service.

The board also received quarterly reports on environment of care and infection control. The reports showed employee satisfaction scores were up at the hospital and the services available continue to increase. The hospital continues to do well on the financial side of the business also, with Ulrich pointing out that operating margin was at goal.

"While we are pleased with where we are at, we are not satisfied and will continue to strive for improvement," Ulrich told the Gazette after the meeting.