Challenge Of The Present
Hospital Builds Toward Future
Printed in the Clay Center Dispatch on February 27, 2006
By Marcia Newell
Clay County Medical Center serves a vital need by providing quality medical care in a rural community. The medical center is fully licensed by the State of Kansas as a Critical Access Hospital and is certified by Medicare. The hospital is licensed for 25 beds; three of which are in the Maternity Wing, three in the Intensive care Unit and nineteen Inpatient beds for acute care or swing bed status patients. The hospital is Medicare certified and includes a program known as Meadowlark Hospice. That program provides end of life care for Clay County and the surrounding areas of Cloud, Marshall, Republic, Riley, and Washington. Employment of professional and supporting health care workers makes the hospital the second largest employer in the county.
The board of directors for the hospital has been meeting with the medical planning and architect firm, Health Facilities Group, LLC for a period of over three and one half years. A lot of pre-planning and time has been spent on addressing the medical facilities and services needs of the community. The current challenge involves taking the existing facility, which is architecturally sound and creating new space that is viable for many years to come. In the coming weeks, several key areas of the hospital that are targeted for expansion will be discussed in more detail.
In keeping with the theme, Building for a Healthy Future, the reputation and expertise of the outpatient clinic physicians has contributed to tremendous growth since the original outpatient clinic was built in 1998. The upcoming expansion project will accommodate patients and doctors by adding much needed space. The community has been very supportive and appreciative in response to having specialized care available close to home. In the last two years, outpatient numbers have more than doubled and that trend is expected to continue. Currently there are ten specialty clinics offered at CCMC and they serve an estimated population of 15,000. The new plan allows for an expanded nurses station, a dedicated room for eye exams and seven outpatient exam rooms.
Additional space is also needed for the Wellness & Fitness Center, an Education center and all of the therapies (Cardiac Rehab, Physical, Occupational, Respiratory and Speech Therapy). Generous charitable gifts for an education and wellness center were the catalyst for the current expansion project. The Gustav H. and Adelia C. Meyer Trust and United Bank & Trust, gave significant gifts that were earmarked for Education and Mark Chapman gave a large donation towards the Wellness and Fitness Center. These gifts will help with the continued challenges faced in utilizing space within the hospital. For example, the public demand for Physical and Occupational Therapy services forced a move of Physical and Occupational Therapy into space that previously housed the Education Department. Currently, the hospital does not have the proper space to provide for the educational programs needed by staff, so training has to be conducted off site in the 4-H building or area churches.
Administration recognizes that people are the most important asset in delivering quality medical care and the hospital is dedicated to providing learning opportunities for its staff. Director of Employee Health and Education Coordinator, Mick Beauchamp, is excited about the new space being dedicated to education in the expansion project. She stated, “More revenue will be generated by keeping attendees on campus, eliminating the need to rent facilities and move equipment for each learning experience. When the space is adequate, more revenue will be forthcoming because classes will be offered to surrounding counties and those professionals will be able to train in this facility.” Beauchamp, RN, BSN, has written a mission statement that represents the hospital’s view. “It is the vision of the education department of Clay County Medical Center to be a regional leader in the provision of education that focuses on quality assurance and excellence in quality patient care, and the delivery of community education.”
Speech Therapy, Cardiac Rehab, Respiratory Therapy, and the Director of Nursing’s office currently occupy rooms that could be used for acute care. In the expansion project, semi-private rooms will be replaced with private ones. One of the primary goals of the expansion project is to provide an environment where friends and relatives can participate in a patient’s recovery. A private room lends itself to a much more family friendly setting.
Ron Bender, CEO, reported that ground breaking for the expansion project is tentatively scheduled for May 8, 2006 and the targeted completion date is March 9, 2007. He stated, “My goal in this project is to provide the proper facilities for our dedicated staff and deserving patients. I appreciate the efforts of the Clay County Hospital Board of Trustees and those serving on the Clay County Hospital Foundation for their part in making this plan a reality.”