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There’s more than just a new light on the horizon, Skyline is upgrading the way it provides health care. Patients have always come first here, but now, they’re provided with first-class surroundings as well as care. The $15 million two-level addition and renovation of the original building brings our rural hospital into the 21st century and beyond. We’re doing it in three phases, here’s how:
Phase one: new wing, complete as of September 2009
Phase two: remodel of original facility, September 2009-January 2010
Phase three: construction of new kitchen, café, and meeting spaces (on the ground floor of the new wing). Date to be determined.
Who Pays for the Expansion:
Phase one is a 13,765 ft. new wing and a new heli-pad and is complete as of September 2009. We’ve given our patients the best rooms in the house. Professional service in private rooms combined with state-of-the-art equipment, close-at-hand nurses, and unparalleled views make this 21-bed hospital one of the most personalized hospitals in the area. Of the 18 patient rooms, 14 are single, 13 have magnificent views (with window-seat beds for spouses or friends), 4 look to our interior courtyard, all have private baths, flat screen TVs, and laptops with Wi-Fi. In addition, the three inviting birthing suites come with air-jetted tubs. Truth be told: two rooms are unfinished due to funds.
Phase two: September 2009-January 2010. Now that the patients have been moved out of the original building and into the new, the construction crew has moved into the old building to remodel the space to better serve all departments, particularly the growing diagnostic imaging department with its new top-of-the-line ultrasound and to make space for the new CT scanner planned to arrive in 2010. Estimated finish date is February 2010.
Phase three: Date to be determined. Skyline is anxious to get a jump start on phase three but funding for this final phase of the project is still pending. As soon as the funds come through they will finish off the ground level space of the new wing which comprises a meeting space, kitchen, café, and an outdoor patio. Estimated finish date depends on funding.
WHO PAYS FOR THIS ADDITION?
We are—without raising your taxes or padding your hospital bill. Fact is, the 2009-2010 $15.1 million remodel is primarily funded by the commercial bond market. The hospital is obligated to pay off the bonds within the next 25 years. We intend to pay them off by hospital revenues gained from Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements. Due to government incentives that encourage rural Critical Access [click on here to get the information below] hospitals to update their facilities, the Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements will increase to help us cover the costs without affecting the patients’ out-of-pocket expenses. In addition, a few generous individuals have helped to off-set the cost of a portion of the construction by directing their donations to our building fund.
WHEN WILL YOU HAVE THE OFFICIAL RIBBON CUTTING?
A public open house (and the official ribbon cutting) is planned for early 2010 with the completion of phase two—when we connect the new with the old and remodel a portion of the original building. Phase three—completing the ground floor of the new wing (future meeting rooms, café and patio, and kitchen)—is on hold until more funding can be secured.
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