It’s been open to the public for the past 19 months, and now Allen County Regional Hospital is nearly fully complete. TUESDAY’S MEETING was the first under newly hired chief executive officer Marion “Tony” Thompson. GILPIN reported Phyllis De Tar widow of the late Dr. George De Tar, has purchased new chairs and tables that soon will be placed south of the hospital campus, near the retention pond.
At their regular meeting Tuesday, the hospital’s board of trustees unanimously approved paying Murray Company $80,000 of the final $105,000 they had retained until all of the final “punch list” construction items were complete.
Only two items remain on the list, the most prominent of which deals with masonry surrounding the building. (The other deals with drip edges on canopy scuppers.)
The rest of the funds will be released to Murray when the final items are resolved, Trustee Harry Lee Jr. said.
In a related matter, the public will get one last opportunity to say goodbye to the old hospital at the intersection of First Street and U.S. 54.
The open house on Aug. 25 will allow the community to celebrate the hospital’s role in Iola and Allen County’s history, Trustee Karen Gilpin reported.
Allen County Commissioners approved a contract earlier this month to have the old hospital razed in order for a grocery store and apartment complexes to be built on the lot.
Thompson replaces the retiring Ron Baker.
Prior to coming to Allen County, Thompson was CEO of Goodland Regional Medical Center in Western Kansas.
In his final report to the trustees board, Baker reported about ACRH’s occupancy trends.
After an extended period of “up and down years with a generally downward trend,” Baker noted Allen County’s patient days has grown each year since 2012.
“The first half of 2015 projects a continuation of that growth at a higher level than any year since 2005,” Baker wrote.
For total hospital census days, the trend at ACRH and other hospitals nationwide has been down for the past decade.
However, Allen County has seen a significant uptick in the first half of 2015 as well, Baker noted, of nearly 20 percent.
Baker credited the community’s support of construction of the new hospital.
“These trends are the result of the commitment of the citizens of Allen County to support the mission of our organization with funding for a new facility and equipment, the dedication and hard work of our medical staff, hospital staff and management team, and the ability of everyone (to) move together through the massive changes.
“My hope for your future; embrace the change,” he concluded. “I believe the changes that were started in 2010 are starting to show signs of the progress you desired. The past five years are only the first step in your journey into the future of Allen County Regional Hospital.”
Tuesday’s meeting also was the first for new trustee Loren Korte, who replaced former trustee Glenn Buchholz.
More hospital ‘punch list’ items complete
