Voters will decide Nov. 2 whether to increase a countywide sales tax by 1⁄4 of a cent to go toward a new Allen County Hospital.
Members of the Allen County Healthcare Committee address questions about the issue.
Q: Who came up with construction estimates?
A: Part 2 of the Cost of a New Hospital.
The Master Plan Report on Allen County Hospital was a collaborative effort between the Allen County Commission, Allen County Hospital, the 10 volunteer members of the Allen County Hospital Facilities Commission and Health Facilities Group and its team of experts.
It included three options: 1) short-term repairs, 2) renovation and 3) replacement. The full report is available on the county website, www.allencoun-ty.org and under the tab for ACH Master Plan Report.
In February of 2010, Health Facilities Group (HFG), was selected by the Allen County Commission in a competitive bid pro-cess, to evaluate Allen County Hospital and report on its findings and make recommendations.
HFG pulled together a team of experienced healthcare experts to assist in the assessment. Included in the team were Steve Lewallen, Richard Lundstrom, Rick Wilson and Brent Castillo of HFG; Scott Buckley of The Buckley Group; Chuck Wells of Healthcare Financial Advisers; Greg Vahrenberg and Todd Van Deventer of Piper Jaffray, investment bankers, and Phil Schultze of Murray Company, a construction company.
The process to complete this master plan included the following elements: 1) data acquisition involving interviews with administration, department heads and key staff in the hospital; 2) study and analysis of the market conditions and demographics of the service region and surrounding area; 3) assessment of hospital finances; 4) financing options; 5) evaluation of the existing facility and site; 6) preparation and analysis of space and operations program information; 7) development of alternative plans (renovation and replacement options), including price, and 8) presentation of the master plan concepts.
HFG was paid a fee for this report and the study was concluded in August with a public presentation at Wesley United Methodist Church.
HFG was established in 1994 and has always been focused exclusively on healthcare.
The staff of 27 professionals has served more than 50 hospitals across the Midwest, including 35 critical access hospitals. HFG has helped or has recently assisted in passing hospital bond issue votes in Scott City, Johnson City, Liberal, Coldwater, Kan., and Geneva, Neb.
