Allen County Hospital trustees are working with their fingers crossed, hoping that the Iola City Council will rezone land on North Kentucky Street at the council’s Oct. 11 meeting.
“We have to work as if it’s a go,” said Harry Lee, hospital board chairman.
Trustees received a setback last Wednesday when members of the Iola Planning Commission denied their request to rezone the 25 acres from residential to commercial. Members of the City Council have the final say over the matter.
Trustee Sean McReynolds said the board’s appeal on Oct. 11 is proof enough that they are still eager for approval of the site.
David Wright, architect of Health Facilities Group, said work is continuing on civil engineering plans at the site. Drawings for the building’s layout and interior have received final approval by hospital department heads, Wright said.
Wright broached trustees with the possibility that if construction bids came under the $17.8 million construction budget, two areas of the hospital would benefit from expansions.
Instead of having 17 private and semi-private rooms to accommodate 25 patients, it would be better to have more private rooms, he said.
“There are times when we are pretty tight for beds,” said Joyce Heismeyer, chief executive officer of the hospital.
Patty McGuffin, head of nursing, agreed, saying an increase in outpatient numbers and those using other services provided by the hospital mean more beds are needed, though occasionally for only a few hours.
With 17 patient rooms, there’s no guarantee private rooms can be made available to everyone, Heismeyer said.
Also, adding a four-pod specialty clinic would attract specialists such as an orthopedist to join the hospital staff.
The clinic “could be attached to the building for cost purposes, but I’m guessing it would be under separate ownership, perhaps by your hospital foundation,” Wright said.
“If things get under way and go our way financially, you could have the opportunity to build one or the other,” Wright said.
He estimated the clinic would entail an additional 5,000-6,000 square feet. Additional patients’ rooms would add 3,500-square feet. The extra rooms also could be “shelled” in until sufficient funds allowed their completion, he said.
“We’re trying to see how much we can get for that Guaranteed Maximum Price,” Wright said, referring to the price for which the building contractor, Murray Construction, will complete the project.
Of course, the plans for either addition come at a price, said fellow architect Steve Lewallen.
“There’s more drawings, more engineering to figure,” he said. “There’s some risk. You don’t know if you’re going to be able to do it or not.”
Trustees will know whether any wiggle room exists when a bid is accepted.
Trustees did not readily embrace the idea of expanding a hospital they have yet to see. Wright said by their Oct. 11 meeting he would have drawings completed. Trustees plan to convene after their meeting with City Councilmen earlier that evening.
TUESDAY’S meeting was the last for the board with Heismeyer, whose last day at ACH is Friday. She has accepted a position as chief financial officer of Kansas Heart Hospital in Wichita.
Chris Rivera, chief operating officer of Overland Park Medical Center, has been appointed by Health Corporation of America to replace Heismeyer. Rivera’s first day will be Nov. 1.
