CONCORDIA — Cloud County Health Center (CCHC) announced Monday that it plans to build a new $40,347,000 facility.
It will do so without seeking local tax support for the construction project, and thus will continue to be one of the few critical access hospitals in the state that does not receive tax support, according to Dave Garnas, CCHC administrator.
CCHC plans to approach the Concordia City Commission for an option to secure a tract of land along College Drive for the new facility.
“We are not the same hospital we were five years ago, and for that matter, we’re not the same hospital we were a year ago. I’m proud to report that Cloud County Health Center has enjoyed a financial and operational stabilization,” Garnas told the group assembled on Broadway Plaza Monday.
“Due in no small part to our partnership with Salina Regional Health Center and due largely to the continued high quality of care provided by our doctors, advanced practice providers, and staff. We have added providers. We have added specialists, from, I think, in just the last year, five or six. We’ve added a walk-in clinic to serve you, our community, better. And most importantly, we have done these things with sound financial footing,” Garnas said.
“With our house in good order, our board, Salina Regional, and leadership made a decision in December to start working toward providing a health care facility to match,” he said.
According to Garnas, a group of community and staff members worked with architects and people who provided the health center’s master facility plan.
“This group looked at the cost of remodeling the current facility and the cost to build a new facility,” he said. “The group ultimately decided that building a new facility would be more financially feasible for the long run.”
Garnas noted that the current facility has served the community well for 68 years.
“But health care has changed and our facility needs need to change as well. This team worked to design a space that works best for our patients, staff, and community and a space that can serve us well for the next 40 plus years,” he said.
Garnas said that while the team members sometimes differed on design needs, all agreed that the project should be pursued without seeking local tax dollars.
“Instead, we are pursuing financing through USDA and with the support of our partners at Salina Regional Health Center,” he said. “In the next six months, we will be working with the USDA on all the steps necessary for this new facility. We are hopeful to have a final answer from the USDA in late December.”
Garnas said that the USDA program available to critical access hospitals allows more favorable rates and payback periods than a more conventional loan.
“We estimate that starting after we receive approval from USDA that it will take eight months to design the building with ground breaking no later than early 2021,” he said.
Garnas asked the public for two things: to use the CCHC facilities and to think of ways to contribute toward financing the cost of the new facility.