Friday, July 07, 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:
“Memorial
Medical Center recently held a public meeting about their new facility at the
Neillsville American Legion. They began
by providing background information about why the new facility is needed, how
it’s funded, why they chose the River Avenue location and words of support from
various partners and officials. Residents in attendance were also able to ask
questions or voice concerns about the facility and the location. MMC is hard at work in the design phase of
the project.
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 8:58 AM | Email Us
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