Community project funding/congressionally directed spending - construction - morton county health systems proposed facility upgrade project is requesting funds to improve health care resources for…

Community project funding/congressionally directed spending - construction - morton county health systems proposed facility upgrade project is requesting funds to improve health care resources for rural residents of southwestern kansas. This hospital has struggled due to lack of funding for facility modernization. With the improvements accessible through this grant, we will renovate and hire the providers we'VE struggled to attract. We have long feared losing the hospital because IT is a financial struggle to meet the stringent requirements from OSHA, CMS, and other agencies that have jurisdiction on hospital and clinic operations. Morton county hospital was originally built in 1957. Additions were added in 1978 and 1986. Over the past 20 years, due to limited funds, the facility has not been maintained and is in desperate need of restoration. The construction plan does not add square footage but renovates existing facilities, bringing them into compliance with modern medical practices. Some of the areas in the hospital have not been useable due to lack of funds for maintenance. This grant will allow the hospital to reopen the geriatric-psychiatric unit, much needed in the community but requiring updating with ligature equipment to be licensed. Other line items in the budget renovate the reception areas, the emergency room, the controlled main access doors, chiller repairs, replacing the c-arm which is used for the pain management procedures and the required exam bed for the procedures. The geri-psychic unit and c-arm add revenue improving hospital sustainability. Since our facility does not have surgery, patients needing emergency surgery must be air lifted to other hospitals. Several helicopters have declined to land because we only have a grass and gravel landing area. This grant will allow US to construct an illuminated, compliant landing pad of concrete on the existing landing area. We feel that these proposed improvements will position the hospital to continue properly for the next 5-10 years.