Members of the Allen County Hospital Foundation will help with a capital campaign for construction of a new or remodeled hospital.
Gary Parker, foundation president, and of rural LaHarpe, told members of the ACH advisory group Monday afternoon, he and others were prepared “to be as active as we need to be.”
The foundation in recent years has been a conduit for memorial gifts that provide funds for Life Line, Home Health and Hospice, all ACH programs. That became the foundation’s role when ACH changed to for-profit status several years ago. Previously it raised money to purchase equipment.
“When the foundation first started we had a gala — a dinner and auction — that raised quite a bit of money,” Parker said. “We could do something like that again.
“It’s important to see something done in health care for Allen County,” he continued.
County Counselor Alan Weber emphasized that a capital campaign by the foundation would be an important part of the funding process.
The advantage of the ACH foundation is its tax status that ensures donations are tax deductible, Bob Talkington, Iola attorney and foundation member, noted. Health Midwest, which preceded Hospital Corporation of America as ACH’s management group, was the driving force that led to formation of the foundation, he said.
“We had an $18,000 donation at the start — $6,000 each for Life Line, Home Health and Hospice — that got the foundation started,” he said.
Parker said the foundation, with assistance from Thrive Allen County, which helps with management of its funds, recently started a grant application process, seeking $50,000 that would be used to recruit a doctor or dentist.
DAVID TOLAND, advisory committee member, relayed information about utility needs he obtained from Health Facilities Group of Wichita, consultants hired to examine all aspects of the hospital and recommend improvements through remodeling or a new facility.
A four-inch line will be required for daily water needs and a six-inch line should be in place to provide fire protection, Toland said. Also, a six-inch sewer line will be needed. He later will discuss with Iola officials what the city’s role might be in provision of utilities.
The concern of the hospital to retain its critical access designation if it were to build anew, is for naught, said Joyce Heismeyer, hospital administrator.
To comply, the hospital must encompass 75 percent of its present service area and retain 75 percent of its staff and services, both of which Heismeyer said would be foregone conclusions.
Allen County Hospital, as well as its nearest competitors in Chanute and Garnett, became a critical access hospital in 2003. Critical access hospitals are rural acute care hospitals and are limited to 25 beds. Being so designated enhances Medicare reimbursement.
Advisory committee members will tour Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute Monday afternoon.
