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Hospital will seek $17.7 million bond for expansion
The Elmore Medical Center Hospital District will proceed with a $17,680,000 general obligation bond election to finance a 31,000-square foot hospital/nursing home expansion project.
The proposed expansion plan will go before hospital district voters on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2006 to approve a 20-year general obligation bond to finance the project.
"We respect that this project is a huge commitment by our communities, and believe they will value an investment in the future of local health care services to better meet their needs," commented Greg Maurer, hospital administrator.
In a unanimous vote at the June 7 meeting, the Hospital District Board of Trustees approved a revised conceptual design for the expansion project that provides a 20-bed capacity for elder care services (a nursing home).
"I am very pleased to see this project moving forward. The community oversight team, community elder care task force members, the board, and staff have put many hours into this project to make sure it fits the community's needs,"said Hospital Board Chairman, Dr. John Bideganeta.
"I think this is a wonderful plan that everyone can support.
"With the growth we are seeing in our community it is important that we expand to meet the increasing health care services everyone needs"
Faced with an aging building that is nearing maximum capacity and a growing community population, the process to develop an expansion plan started nearly two years ago. The strategic direction for the hospital was reviewed and key staff members interviewed to identify current and future healthcare needs. A comprehensive population projection for the EMC service area was completed to determine how the changing population would affect utilization of the medical center.
Functions between and within departments were studied, along with the flow of patients, visitors, staff and materials within the building. That review process was followed up with a complete engineering evaluation of the existing buildings and systems.
A space allocation plan was developed to identify the physical space needed in each department to ensure adequate room for new technology, expanded services and increased patient privacy, comfort and security.
Once all that detail was gathered a conceptual design was created.
A proposed conceptual design was then presented at community focus group meetings in Mountain Home, Glenns Ferry, Grand View, Bruneau and Pine/Featherville, allowing community members to provide input and feedback on the proposal.
The focus group meetings identified a concern over the loss of nursing home services not replaced in the original proposed design. As a result, a Community Elder Care Task Force was organized to study and discuss options and opportunities for elder care services in the community.
The group brought forth a unanimous recommendation to provide a 20-bed capacity for elder care services in the hospital's expansion plan. The hospital board approved that revised expansion plan.
"It is incredibly powerful to see a group of dedicated people work to create a future for our town, our community" remarked Community Elder Care Task Force chairperson, Cindy Terriberry-Kencke.
Community presentations will be scheduled for all groups requesting more information. Hospital tours will be available upon request for groups of 10 or less, Monday through Friday beginning the week of June 26.
District residents may request information about the expansion project or schedule a group presentation or facility tour by contacting Doreen Krabbenhoft at 580-2673.