Project Grant CE146485

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - NORMAN REGIONAL HEALTHPLEX 3300 HEALTHPLEX PARKWAY NORMAN, OK 73072 TROY GLOVER, HEALTHPLEX EXPANSION MEDICAL GAS/AIR PROJECT DIRECTOR 405-307-1161 VOICE 405-307-1076 FAX TGLOVER@NRH-OK.COM NORMANREGIONAL.COM GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS REQUESTED MEDICAL GAS SYSTEMS 4TH AND 5TH FLOORS MEDICAL AIR SYSTEMS 3RD FLOOR WOMEN'S PAVILION TOTAL FUNDS REQUESTED: $675,860.11 NORMAN REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM REQUESTS SUPPORT FOR AN ADDITION TO ITS MEDICAL GAS/AIR SYSTEMS AND MECHANICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AT THE HEALTHPLEX HOSPITAL WHICH WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE CRITICAL CARE ROOMS FOR BOTH ADULT AND PEDIATRIC INPATIENTS. THE FUNDING WILL SUPPORT EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS IN THE EVENT OF A MASS CASUALTY INCIDENT OR SURGE OF INFECTIOUS PATIENTS ALLOWING THE LOCAL HOSPITAL SYSTEM TO TREAT MORE CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS REGARDLESS OF THE CRISIS. NOW IS THE PERFECT TIME TO IMPLEMENT THIS LIFESAVING INFRASTRUCTURE, AS THE HEALTHPLEX IS UNDERGOING AN EXPANSION OF ITS EMERGENCY ROOM (ER), CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW PATIENT BED TOWER AND RENOVATION OF ITS EXISTING PATIENT BED TOWERS. WHILE A STANDARD PATIENT ROOM HAS ONE OUTLET EACH FOR OXYGEN, VACUUM AND MEDICAL AIR, A CRITICAL CARE ROOM REQUIRES AT LEAST TWICE THAT NUMBER. WITH THIS GRANT, NORMAN REGIONAL CAN ADD ADDITIONAL MEDICAL GASES TO 64 ADULT CRITICAL CARE AND 24 POST-PARTUM AND PEDIATRIC ACUTE CARE ROOMS. THE FUNDING WILL ALLOW NORMAN REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM (NRHS) TO CONSISTENTLY CARE FOR ANY LARGE AND SUDDEN INFLUX OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHILE CONTINUING TO CARE FOR EXISTING HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS. THE COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING WILL BE UTILIZED TO SUPPORT "PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS" AND TWO KEY AREAS OF THE HOSPITAL INPATIENT CARE SETTING: (1) ACUTE INTENSIVE ADULT CRITICAL CARE AND (2) ACUTE POST-PARTUM AND PEDIATRIC CARE. THIS PROJECT PROVIDES OUR PHYSICIANS AND NURSES WITH THE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE THEY NEED TO SAVE LIVES. THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC BROUGHT TO LIGHT THE THREAT AND DAMAGING IMPACT A HEALTH CRISIS CAN HAVE ON NATIONAL INTERESTS. ONE COULD REASONABLY CHARACTERIZE COVID-19 AS A NATIONAL HEALTH THREAT AND CONCEIVABLY A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE. AS SUCH, NRHS'S PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS INITIATIVE IS A VALID EXPENDITURE OF TAXPAYER FUNDS. IT IS A LOCAL SOLUTION TO A (POTENTIAL) NATIONAL PROBLEM. FURTHERMORE, NORMAN REGIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM (NRHS) IS OPERATED BY NORMAN REGIONAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY, A NOT-FOR-PROFIT, PUBLIC TRUST, WHICH SERVES THE PUBLIC INTERESTS AND FUNCTIONS AS A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA. ANY REVENUE GENERATED BY NRHS IS REINVESTED DIRECTLY INTO ITS TALENT, TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES. NRHS HAS SERVED CITIZENS FROM ALL 77 COUNTIES IN OKLAHOMA AND RESIDENTS FROM MORE THAN 30 STATES, AND IS CONSIDERED A GATEWAY TO HEALTH - ESPECIALLY FOR SOUTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMANS. THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO PROVIDE ONGOING CRITICAL PATIENT CARE AND MEET EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS NEEDS IN THE EVENT OF ANOTHER VIRAL OUTBREAK OR LARGE SCALE NATURAL DISASTER THAT CAUSES AN INTENSE AND SUDDEN SURGE OF PATIENTS. NRHS HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN THE RAPID INFLUX OF CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS FROM VIOLENT TORNADOES, ONE OF WHICH DESTROYED ITS MOORE MEDICAL CENTER HOSPITAL IN 2013, AND MOST RECENTLY, THREE SUCCESSIVE HOSPITAL SURGES OF COVID-19 PATIENTS. THE APPROPRIATED FUNDS WILL BE OBLIGATED WITHIN 12 MONTHS AFTER RECEIPT. CURRENTLY, THE HEALTHPLEX EXPANSION IS UNDERWAY AND SHOVEL-READY FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND ADDITION OF MEDICAL GAS SYSTEMS TO THE 64 ADULT CRITICAL CARE AND MODERNIZATION OF 24 POST-PARTUM AND PEDIATRIC ACUTE CARE ROOMS IN THE EXISTING WOMEN'S PAVILION.