Hospital begins seeking input for expansion plan

The hospital is considering an $18.7 million expansion project, but wants to hear from the public first.

The Elmore Medical Center Board of Trustees is taking under consideration a proposed Facility Master Plan recommended by the Planning and Building Committee and Facility Master Plan Oversight Team that may eventually lead to an expansion of the hospital.

"The next step in the process will be to hold a series of community focus group meetings to provide education about the proposal and gather feedback from community members" said hospital administrator, Greg Maurer.

Meetings have been scheduled in Glenns Ferry, Bruneau, Pine/Featherville, Grand View and Mountain Home beginning on Jan. 17 and running through Feb. 16.

A total of seven community focus-group meetings will be conducted.

Community leaders and residents from the entire hospital district service area will be invited to attend the meetings. Feedback from the participants will assist the Hospital Board of Trustees in determining the future direction of the Facility Master Plan.

The planning process began with an analysis of the current hospital facilities and services.

A demographic study forecasting population growth for the next 20 years was also conducted. In addition, a Community Oversight Team was assembled to evaluate the findings and help identify a facility design concept that will meet the future healthcare needs of the community and adapt to changing medical technologies.

American Health Facilities Development, LLC (AHFD) was contracted to assist with an engineering analysis of the hospital, nursing home, and clinic buildings, and provide a space allocation analysis of current and future space needs for Elmore Medical Center's health care services. AHFD also provided architectural services that pulled all that information together into a facility design concept that would address the long-term strategic developments for the hospital district.

The facility design concept is being brought forward to the public for input.

It accommodates service growth in ambulatory and outpatient services, emergency department, specialty clinic services, and diagnostic services.

The proposal calls for the hospital to remain at the maximum of 25 inpatient beds for Critical Access Hospital status, a designation that helps the hospital with federal reimbursement programs for hospital costs.

The original hospital was built in 1955 and additions were made in 1961, 1965, 1970, 1973, and 1996.

The engineering analysis of the existing building indicates that it would require at least $4.1 million in facility system renovations and upgrades in the near future to keep the building's systems functioning.

A total of $3.6 million of those system renovations are required in the 40 year-old nursing home building. System renovations include plumbing, sewer, electrical upgrades, heating and cooling systems, and fire suppression systems, but would not include any renovations that improve the functional design of the buildings.

The proposed facility design concept addresses all those system issues and "allows the hospital to re-design how patient services are configured to promote better patent flow, create significant work efficiencies and provide a facility that will meet the heath care needs of our communities, well into the future."

The community focus group meetings will be conducted to provide education about the proposed Facility Master Plan and solicit community input.

The meetings will also allow for discussion about changing trends in long-term care services and how those trends will impact Elmore Medical Center's changing role in elderly care services.

"This Proactive Facility Master Planning process takes into account the importance of addressing immediate and future facility needs, preparing for changing consumer preferences in healthcare services and changing technologies, and developing a facility design concept that is flexible and will meet the health care needs of our communities for the next 20 years," Maurer said.

Community members interested in participating in the focus groups will be asked to RSVP by calling 580-9811, to ensure adequate seating at each location.

"If necessary, more meetings will be scheduled," said Betty Van Gheluwe, Elmore Medical Center's Chief Operating Officer.

The meeting schedule is:

* Jan. 17, at 6:30 p.m. -- Veterans Memorial Hall, Glenns Ferry.

* Jan. 25, at 6:30 p.m. -- Elmore Medical Center Conference Room, Mountain Home.

* Feb. 7, at 6:30 p.m. -- Elmore Medical Center Conference Room, Mountain Home.

* Feb. 8, at 6:30 p.m. -- Bruneau Library, Bruneau.

* Feb. 14, at noon -- Boise River Senior Center, Pine/Featherville.

* Feb. 16, at 12:30 p.m. -- Rimrock Senior Center, Grand View.

* Feb. 18, at 6:30 p.m. -- Elmore Medical Center Conference Room, Mountain Home.