Voters will decide Nov. 2 whether to increase a countywide sales tax by 1⁄4 of a cent to go toward a new Allen County Hospital.
Members of the Allen County Healthcare Committee address questions about the issue. Q: How will a new hospital help attract more patients, doctors and medical specialists?
A: Members of the Hospital Facilities Commission (HFC) traveled to many new and remodeled hospitals across the state and there was one consistent theme they returned with: making an investment in modern healthcare facilities pays off. It permits a hospital to retain the patients in its market and to attract new ones. It also was instru-mental in retaining and attracting doctors and
medical specialists and improving profits at the facilities.
Consultants hired by the county report in the Mas-ter Plan document released Aug. 2 that the proposal to replace the present hos-pital will solve 100 percent of the limitations or compliance issues of the present building and in so doing, will eliminate issues that have caused patients
to go elsewhere for service — patients who could more conveniently use Allen County Hospital. Improved facilities are attractive to doctors and medical specialists, too. The investment shows a commitment by
the community to remain competitive.
Hospital profits improve, too, according to the members of the HFC that participated in the study. And it makes sense that profits would improve. Patient volume should increase. Additional physicians and medical specialties should attract more types of patients.
Operating expenses should be less with staffing efficiencies gained by improving the design of the hospital floorplan and by having all departments on one level. Use of more energy efficient materials and updating heating and air-conditioning systems should save on utilities, as well.
Most persuasive is the fact that most hospitals in our immediate area have already been updated. We are in a “catch-up” mode with regard to the hospitals with which we compete. And almost all are experiencing growth in patients, new physicians and improved profitability.
We can grow, too!
Yes! Allen County Healthcare
