Take time to listen as the hospital district considers facility issues

The future of healthcare in the area deserves a solid, collaborative discussion.

For the better part of 10 years, Adams County Public Hospital District No. 2 has struggled with the aging condition of a 60-year-old hospital facility. Countless studies have been done at great expense to the district and the taxpayers supporting it.

For the most part the studies come to the same conclusion: The existing facility can be brought up to code or it can be renovated to stretch its life just a little bit longer. Both options however, require millions of dollars of investment and will only serve as a short to moderate solution.

Routinely during the past decade architects and engineers have suggested a better investment is the construction of a new, modern hospital that will embrace new healthcare technology and the 21st century’s energy efficient technology.

Tonight the hospital district will conduct a town hall discussion regarding the condition of its current facility and the concept of building a new hospital. You should be there. Take the opportunity to hear the facts and ask questions.

The district’s building committee made a recommendation a few months ago, based on nearly a year of investigation, to build new. The hospital commissioners accepted and cautiously embraced the idea. Since then the focus has been on gathering information and making a conscientious effort to know the facts, especially what the costs are for the various options and how to pay for a new hospital.

One overriding factor looms. The State of Washington is closely monitoring the situation as the existing facility does not meet modern day code requirements for hospitals and several extremely expensive infrastructure upgrades will be mandated if a new hospital is not constructed.

A year ago when the district held a town hall meeting to discuss the future of the hospital district, the overwhelming message was clear. Citizens wanted quality healthcare preserved. They also wanted a decision made regarding what direction the district would go in — renovation or new construction. Effectively, residents wanted the district to become stable and to ensure the best possible care in the years to come.

Tonight the district will discuss the options, the issues with the existing building and the cost and funding mechanism available for the construction of a new hospital.

Building a new hospital will be expensive. Renovating the old building is almost equally as expensive with far less return for the investment.

The difficult issue is that the funds for a new hospital will have to come from the passage of a 30-year general obligation bond that will put the burden on the taxpayers.

The hospital district has made a sincere effort to study all the options, examine the true condition of its aging facility and carefully prepare a factual presentation.

The goal, we believe is to ensure quality healthcare for many years to come. The commissioners have worked collectively, despite previous differences, to do what is best for the communities served by the district.

You should take the time tonight to attend the meeting, listen carefully and ask thoughtful questions. The hospital district is at a crossroads and a major decision must be made in the coming days. This is your chance to play a role in the decision process.

-Stephen McFadden