The Aurora Memorial Hospital board took a step closer last week to pulling the trigger on phases two and three of a 10-year facilities upgrade plan.
With phase one, the $4.3 million Ken Wortman Surgery Center, already proving its worth, the board hopes to begin addressing other critical space and renovation needs soon. Included on that priority list is a new wing of private long-term care rooms, a new emergency room and access area, and a new dietary department, featuring an expanded kitchen, pharmacy and speciality clinic areas.
Combined, the total price tag has been estimated at approximately $7.8 million.
Cost is a concern, however, as is the uncertain status of health care reform debate in Washington, which prompted the board to hire a construction management firm rather than go straight to bid as has been done in the past. The board voted last week to hire J.E. Dunn Construction of Omaha to help manage the project.
“Health care reform came into the board’s thought process a lot, which is part of the reason we’re going the construction management route so we can have more stopping points along the way in case something happens that we don’t anticipate,” explained CEO Diane Keller. “When the board gives approval to start (which has not yet been done) they aren’t approving $7.8 million worth of construction. It gives us some options of not having to go through the whole thing at once.”
SOURCE: Aurora News Register
