Hospital district budget includes a number of facility improvements

Posted 7/5/19

The Powell Hospital District Board approved a fiscal year 2020 budget, which includes part of the costs for the emergency department renovation. 

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Hospital district budget includes a number of facility improvements

Posted

The Powell Hospital District Board approved a fiscal year 2020 budget, which includes part of the costs for the emergency department renovation. 

The district goes into the year with $2.3 million in reserves and projects $2.8 million in revenues.

Total expenditures come to $2.4 million, and includes a number of capital outlays. In addition to the work on the emergency department, the hospital is also adding a USP800-compliant room to the pharmacy. The room is for the handling of hazardous drugs in a way that is safe for pharmacy employees, patients, and the environment, and includes drugs that increase cancer risk from exposure or those that harm pregnancies.

The USP800 project will cost a total of $279,899, but the State Loan and Investment Board approved a grant that will cover nearly $68,000 of that. The district is putting the project out to bid in hopes of lowering the remaining costs.

At the budget meeting with trustees, representatives with Plan One/Architects, Cody, discussed updates to the emergency department and the addition of a “Fast Track Clinic.”

Speaking after meeting, Dan Odasz, president of Plan One, said it’s going to work a lot like a walk-in clinic.

“Patients that are in need of less intensive treatment are brought to a comfortable and attractive exam room environment, rather than a trauma room in the emergency department,” Odasz explained.

The service will be open 24/7 and is the latest in “best practice” healthcare services.

Odasz said the waiting room was expanded further and made more comfortable, and a connection to the dining room has been provided for those who need to wait a bit longer.

“The whole ED/Fast Track Clinic is intended to be more friendly and patient oriented with these improvements,” he said.

The cost of the entire project is being spread over two years, so only half, about $1 million, was included in the capital outlay budget for fiscal year 2020.

The budgeted capital outlay expenditures budgeted include a security system and some upgrades to The Heartland facility systems.

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