Hospital facilities plan advances

An artist’s conception of improvements to the Medical Specialists Center, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and mobile testing truck areas.

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McCOOK, Neb. —Community Hospital board of directors approved a Facility Master Plan resolution at the regular board meeting on November 15 authorizing Community Hospital to acquire an architect and apply for USDA funding for a new building project.

The project, simply called Project 1, is estimated to cost up to $18.5 million. It is designed to address these needs:

* Medical Specialists Center. Some of the current visiting specialists clinic will be converted to McCook Clinic space for additional exam rooms. Additional square footage will be added for visiting specialists. The remodel will improve efficiency and allow for better patient/staff flow.

A new entrance will be created on the front of the hospital for easier patient access to the physical therapy department.

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* Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation. New square footage will be added to create a larger gym and department. The expansion will allow for additional equipment and put more space between equipment to address safety issues. A walking track around the gym is also being considered. The cardiopulmonary program includes Phase 2 and now offers Phase 3 in the department, causing the service to grow significantly since the gym was built in 2006.

* Kitchen. The project includes a reconfigured workspace in the hospital kitchen for more efficient operation. Staff is currently using the same space and layout from the original 1974 building. Since the ceiling, walls and flooring need to be replaced, the room layout will also be reconfigured for better workflow.

* Laboratory. Workspace will be reconfigured for more efficient operation.

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* Mobile Testing Trucks. The cardiac testing trucks and PET CT truck will be moved to a better, dedicated location.

* Patient Entrances and parking. The rehabilitation entrance will be moved to the front (south side) of the hospital making it easier to find. The Medical Specialists Center entrance will be moved to the back of the hospital close to the current rehab entrance.

The project could start as early as this summer. A second project, Project 2 (ER and Injection Infusion expansions), will follow upon the completion of Project 1.

Troy Bruntz, Community Hospital President & CEO explained the importance of dividing the building expansion and remodeling into two projects instead of one. “Financially, it works out better for us. Two projects allow us shorter term borrowing with lower interest rates.” He added that much of the project is needed due to changing government regulations.

Following the approved resolution, hospital staff will work with the architect to develop detailed designs of each of the spaces, solicit and select a construction management firm and secure financing.

New Board Members

Board elections were announced at the Community Hospital Association Annual Meeting on Nov. 7.

Newly elected to three-year terms were Jessica Bortner and Kristin Stagemeyer. Reelected to a second, three-year term was Warren Jones. Retiring from the board is Wayne Watkins, current board chair, completing two, three-year terms and Mike Langan, completing one, three-year term. Officers and board appointments to the Community Hospital Health Foundation board of directors will be selected at the December 20 board meeting.

Consent Agenda

Directors approved minutes and committee reports for the October 18 regular meeting of the board of directors and the October 10 regular meeting of the medical staff.

Action to be Taken

In addition to the Facility Master Plan resolution, directors also approved the home health and hospice policy and procedure manual, as well as an amendment to the medical staff rules and regulations. Appointments and/or reappointments for affiliate, courtesy and telemedicine medical staff were approved.

Board Education

Sean Wolfe, CFO, educated the board about the measure from the Finance Seed on the balanced scorecard, “Long-Term Debt to Capitalization.” He explained where Community Hospital stood compared to other Critical Access Hospitals in Nebraska and the United States. He also showed data of Community Hospital’s ratio from 2005 to 2017. The hospital has been improving this ratio recently as it pays down its long-term lending from the 2009-2012 addition and remodel; although, this ratio will increase in the coming years as the hospital takes on long-term debt to fund the upcoming addition and remodeling project.