Firm chosen for hospital renovations master plan
Staff reporter
The board of directors of Marion County Hospital District #1 followed a recommendation of the hospital's management team Feb. 26, and chose a firm to provide a master proposal.
Initially, there were 11 proposals submitted from various planners and architecture firms with five of those firms making it to the interview stage.
Following a presentation, Hoefer Wysocki Architects, LLC, of Kansas City, Mo., was determined to be the best fit for the hospital.
HWA has experience in renovating on-site facilities which is important to the board since that is the direction officials are heading.
The price range for the plan also was attractive at $19,000 to $24,000, depending on the amount of details required.
The firm plans to begin and finish the proposal within six to 12 weeks.
Members of the firm will meet with stakeholders, board of directors, staff, and members of the community.
The plan will include the use of the facility for the next 50 years.
In other business:
— The board received a favorable report from auditors BKD LLP of Wichita. Officials received a "clean opinion" which means the auditors did not find any indications that could halt business operations or any concerns regarding management, finances, or compliance issues.
At the end of the 2007 fiscal year, the hospital suffered an operating loss of $500,363 but with non-operating revenue (property tax, interest income, and grants) the hospital ended the year in the black by nearly $300,000. The year-end also included an estimated $300,000 from the Medicare program.
— An interpretation services agreement was approved with Nighthawk Radiology. The program will enable the hospital and clinic to be able to send radiological images any time of day or night to a radiologist for an immediate interpretation.
— Chief financial officer Hilary Dolbee reported that hospital operations finally were in the black during January because of an increase in inpatient and outpatient services, clinic patients, home health care, and the living center being at capacity.
— A 15-minute executive session was held for personnel with chief executive officer Jeremy Armstrong, Dolbee, chief nursing officer Linda Kannady, and Bill Donatelli of QHR in attendance. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
