The plan follows a review of current hospital facilities that began in 2016 at the request of the hospital’s board of directors.
While examining options to renovate the hospital, board members and leadership quickly realized that it “wasn’t the most sustainable path to take,” according to the news release.
Renovations would cost $44 million. The work would include service-line disruption over a phased, 10-year timeline, which would “jeopardize patient care and risk the loss of much-needed revenues to maintain [operations.]” New construction would cost $49 million.
“We had to consider the best way to create an environment that would meet the needs of our mission while ensuring a long-term future for the hospital in our community,” Richard Duvall, CEO of Carthage Area Hospital, said in the news release. “When we weigh all the facts and costs of renovating versus new construction, the latter delivers the best return for our patients and region.”
The hospital is still awaiting word from the state Health Department on its application for construction funding, which Duvall anticipates “sometime in July.”
Meanwhile, the hospital’s board of directors is still reviewing the project and the hospital’s conversations with local, regional and state leaders also continue, according to the news release.
Aging systems
Many of the organization’s “major” physical-plant systems are “either at or past end of effective use and need costly overhaul and attention.”
The systems include electrical; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, and water and sewer, the hospital said.
In addition, as the hospital has expanded services across the twin villages to operate in four different buildings, it has had “inefficiencies that a consolidated medical campus would correct.”
A modern facility would employ highly efficient building design and technology that would improve patient care and flow.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com