Preparing the site for a building pad for the new Allen County Hospital is progressing smoothly, said Sheldon Streeter, a project developer with Murray Company out of Overland Park.
“We’re continuing to dance backward so it doesn’t rain,” he said of the good weather they’ve had for the earthwork.
Streeter and David Wright, architect with Health Facilities Group of Wichita, addressed hospital trustees at their meeting Tuesday evening.
“A few outstanding issues remain” to be settled, Wright said. Architectural plans have been submitted to the International Code Council to ensure the hospital’s plans meet electrical, mechanical, structural and plumbing codes, Wright said.
The City of Iola had requested the building codes council to serve as a third-party to review plans, “which is a little unusual,” Wright said.
Jeff Bauer, Iola code enforcement officer, said ICC officials “are the ones who write the code books.” ICC’s codes are universally accepted.
“We need to get these signed off on to progress with construction,” Wright said.
Trustees reiterated their desire that local businesses be used as much as possible for materials used in the hospital’s construction.
Streeter said he has already contacted area lumber yards for goods.
Some materials, however, do not meet commercial-grade status.
“There’s a difference between residential and commercial quality grades,” Streeter said.
As far as hiring local labor, Streeter said, “We’re always trying to extend our reach.”
Trustees devoted a good chunk of the meeting to discussing electronic medical records and when would be the best time to implement the system that will do away with the paper trail of patient charts.
Critical to its implementation is the approximate $2 million necessary to purchase the sophisticated system. The funds are not in the current budget and yet there’s a window of opportunity of federal reimbursements for facilities that implement the system over the next several years.
Trustees approved using Public Square Communities to help develop a mission and vision statement. A half-day retreat will be an intentional time for a gathering of minds to best say what trustees and other stakeholders see as the purpose of the hospital for Allen County.
Cris Rivera, ACH executive director, said in her short time as CEO she has come to greatly appreciate the facility.
