We, the Hospital Facility Commission, wish to clarify the article in the Tuesday, May 11, Iola Register that began with the headline “New Hospital Gets a Nod.”
We assure you that no decision has been made in any shape or form to do anything to the Allen County Hospital much less to build new or remodel. Our committee has been touring hospitals and listening to the public for four months. Our purpose is to listen to the public and gather information. We have comments that range from “our hospital is fine as is” to “we need to build new in a new location” and everything in between.
Our county commissioners have hired a consulting firm, Health Facilities Group. They are highly skilled in systematically analyzing all aspects of our current facility. On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, approximately 70 people from throughout the county have been involved in focus groups with the Health Facilities Group consultants. These community citizens are meeting with the professionals who are gathering the opinions and ideas from throughout the county. The consultants are in the middle of gathering not only ideas from the public, they are still gathering information from Hospital Corporation of America (the current owners of the hospital), the engineers, construction specialists and architects who are analyzing our current building.
We have heard many people express “something needs to be done to update the health care facility in Allen County.” We are getting that message loud and clear. Exactly how and what can be done has not been decided.
We are still planning listening meetings for the general public on three different evenings. We want everyone who wants to express an opinion to have that opportunity before a decision is made. This is a huge decision that will affect the entire county for many years. It will affect, in some way, the life of every citizen. In no way can some committee of nine citizens jump to some conclusion and make a decision based entirely on opinion.
The Health Facilities Group of Wichita has been hired to make two proposals: one would be the drawings, costs and finances involved in remodeling our current building. The other proposal would be the drawings, costs and finances involved in a new building in a new location. When that process is complete, the Hospital Facility Commission will make a recommendation to the county commissioners. In no way is it the Hospital Facility Commission’s decision. It will be the decision of the county commissioners which proposal will go before the public in the form of a vote. The voting public will make the final decision.
We also hope to clarify to the outstanding employees of Allen County Hospital that criticisms of the physical structure of the hospital are in no way a criticism of the fine staff of ACH. Our only purpose is to talk about the physical building. We have repeatedly heard praise for the hospital employees. Hospital work is stressful and difficult. It is with our utmost respect and gratitude for the staff of Allen County Hospital that we pursue our goal of creating the best physical structure for you to work in.
Sincerely and respectfully,
Mary Ann Arnott
Iola, Kan.
