Friday, June 02, 2017
-Memorial
Medical Center: Small Hospital, Big
Difference, Brighter Future! Back in
November, Memorial Medical Center announced they are in the planning process of
building a new $40 million facility to continue to serve the health care needs
of Clark County and the surrounding area.
The new facility is expected to be completed by the spring of 2020.
In order to keep
the community informed, here’s the latest on the progress of the project:
“MMC and city
officials of Neillsville recently had a meeting to discuss the best sanitation
plan for the replacement medical facility on River Avenue. The recommendation
following that meeting is to place the sewer line parallel to state highway 10,
go under the bridge and connect to an existing sewer line on Clay Street.
The new required lift station would be the responsibility of MMC to purchase and
maintain. This plan would avoid any drilling under the Black River and
avoid certain permits. The engineers are working on the feasibility of
the proposed plan.”
Also, to help
clear up some confusion that some residents have, this project is not using taxpayer
money. This project is not costing taxpayers in the City of Neillsville
money. The funds from this project are being provided by a loan from the
USDA.”
Memorial Medical
Center is also answering any question you may have like this one:
"Q:
Why a new facility?
A:
Memorial Hospital Inc. was erected in 1954 by then President of the Board
Herbert M. Smith and funded federally through the Hill Burton Act of 1946 to
expand services to low populated communities. Medicine at that time was
delivered predominantly through inpatient care. Patients routinely would
be admitted, diagnosed and treated spanning over several days or weeks and
insurance companies dictating care was non-existent. It was common for
MMC to be at capacity with its 34 hospital beds and 198 nursing home beds.
Today through advances in technology, specialty care and insurance
oversight, care is delivered mostly on an outpatient basis. In 2016, 94%
of patient volume at MMC was delivered as an outpatient however the majority of
our square footage is designated for hospital use. On a daily basis, MMC
experiences a shortage of clinic and procedure rooms but have empty inpatient
beds. Regulations do not allow us to utilize hospital designated space
for outpatient space and the cost to remodel and meet new codes would be cost
prohibited."
"Q:
What are we building?
A: Our
vision for MMC is to be the medical campus that caters to advanced outpatient
services such as primary/specialty care, diagnostics, same-day surgery,
wellness/rehabilitation and comprehensive programs such as cancer and
heart. Our inpatient bed capacity will decrease from 25 beds to 16 beds
however our operating rooms will increase from 1 to 2 suites. Many people
have to drive to over 30 minutes to receive specialty outpatient services that
MMC could provide with new space. MMC is currently in conversations to
partner with specialists from Marshfield and Eau Claire to deliver those
service in our new building locally. The opportunity to host additional specialists
on a consistent basis with the right technology has been exciting for both MMC
and the Marshfield Clinic. In addition, the new building will improve
technology for our trauma program, potentially adding a community wellness
center and continue to support a new 50 bed skilled nursing facility with a
short term rehabilitation program and assisted living center."
"Q:
How are we able to build?
A:
Financials continue to improve, gross has increased 26% since 2013 and we
average 100 new patients per month for a variety of services. As a
result, MMC has qualified for a USDA hospital replacement loan available for
rural service areas, similar to the program the 1954 MMC administration took
advantage of. Our strategy as an independent organization is to deliver
modern medicine you need locally by enhancing our current services and
expanding our scope of services through partnerships."
"Q:
Since MMC just renovated for an Assisted Living about 6 years ago, are they
taking this with them or are they giving that up to Neillsville Care &
Rehab? What benefit would they have in keeping it?
A: MMC is
currently discussing with Grant Thayer, President of Neillsville Care and
Rehab, the details of the future campus. We anticipate a brand new
assisted living center being adjacent and utilizing common services as the
skilled nursing home. As residents in assisted living often needing
skilled nursing care, we anticipate Neillsville Care and Rehab operating the
assisted living center”
“Q: Where
is the new facility going to be located?
A: If all
goes according to plan, at 3700 River Avenue.”
"Q:
Why are we building outside on River Ave?
A: MMC
identified six potential sites for the new medical center. Rankings were
completed using eleven criterions-and River Ave was among the top 2
sites. In February, MMC’s civil engineer met with the city and we
identified the potential of expanding city sewer under the river, however MMC
would need to cover the cost. River Ave provides space to expand into a
medical campus, has visibility/access to route 10 and even with investments of
necessary permits this site is within our budget."
"Q: Do you
know what's going to happen with the old facility?
A: Not yet. They
do have some time to start to identify potential suitors for the building.
They're hoping that somebody will find an interest in this to better the
economy of Neillsville. They've had a few preliminary talks with a few
interested parties. All very exciting; however, they've asked not to be
revealed at this time as they are still seeing how feasible it is for
them."
"Q: What's
going to happen to the loan acquired by MMC through the City of Neillsville?
A: Their current
debt they have to do their internal renovations is on hold. So, they currently
have 80% of that loan still sitting in the bank. Part of the USDA Loan Process
is they're allowed to refinance all of their current debt. So, as they
successfully receive this loan, they will then pay off all their debt,
including the loan that the city assisted them to receive. By first or second
quarter, probably second quarter of 2017, all those debts will be
forgiven."
If you have any
questions you'd like answered, feel free to submit your questions to WCCN's
News Director by e-mail or contact
form. Or you may contact MMC's CEO, Ryan Neville.
posted by Unknown at 9:17 AM | Email Us
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