Friday, June 09, 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:
“A
meeting will be held on June 21st at 6:30 P.M. at the Neillsville American
Legion Hall to discuss the proposed healthcare facility project with the
public. Key individuals will be present
to explain the project and assist in answering questions. Attendees include:
Memorial Medical Center’s Board of Directors; Ryan Neville, MMC’s CEO; Steve
Mabie, Mayor of Neillsville; Kristen Weiler-Nytes; Sniteman Pharmacy; Dr. Mark
Hanson, Art of Optometry; Scott Miller, Wold Engineering; Justin Frahm, JSD
Engineering; Jeff Urlaub, MEP Associates, LLC; Camille Helou, Kraus-Anderson.
Also, 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 9:44 AM | Email Us
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