FAQ

Q: Who would be the building contractor for the replacement hospital?A: Upon successful passing of the bond issue, the Hospital Board will seek requests for proposals from at least three construction management companies.
Q: When are you planning on taking this to vote?A: A special election is being planned for late September, 2009.
Q: Who paid for the hospital building and the new clinic building?A: The existing hospital was completed in 1953 at a cost of $265,000 and was paid for by a property tax assessment. The 1975 addition was added at a cost of $1.2 million, also paid by a property tax assessment. The Scott City Clinic, constructed in 1993 with a 2000 addition was paid for by Scott County Hospital.
Q: If a replacement hospital is built, what would happen to the old Hospital building?A: Both the hospital and clinic buildings are leased by Scott County Hospital, Inc... The final decision regarding alternate uses for these structures would be the responsibility of the County. With planning and construction time for completion of a replacement hospital expected to take 2 years, this would give ample time to investigate the options. Because of the aging and imminent replacement of the heating, air-conditioning, ventilation, mechanical and plumbing systems in the hospital building, any subsequent use of the building will require a major financial investment. The Clinic building might serve well for a variety of county and city service offices or sold for private enterprise.
Q: What exactly is wrong with the Old Building?A: There are twenty-one core issues that address the need for a replacement hospital. The findings address problems related to lack of adequate space, faulty and aging systems, site issues, safety code violations, handicap accessibility issues, staffing inefficiencies, inability to grow services due to space constraints and recruitment concerns. The hospital lacks a fire sprinkler system and is behind in many health codes. It does not meet ADA standards, there is not tornado shelter for the patients and nursing staff in the event of a tornado, the generator is well beyond its life expectancy, many of the mechanical and electrical equipment is outdated, and is lacking a lot of space.
Q: Who did you use to do the feasibility study?A: Health Facilities Group, LLC- Medical Planning and Architecture from Wichita Kansas
Q: Who should I contact with further questions?A: Call the hospital at 620-872-5811. You can choose to talk to a Scott County Hospital Administrator or a Hospital Board Member.
Q: Can the hospital be built for less than $24 million?A: The answer is yes, anything can be built for less. But, there are two things to keep in mind: First, it’s an estimate. Secondly, going cheap may not get the community the type of hospital it needs. The original cost of $24 million is based on estimates by an experienced medical construction management company that has a long track record of being on target with its pricing. With successful passing of the bond issue, bids will be obtained from multiple construction management companies. There will be transparency in the construction process to allow the hospital to account for all fees and costs on the project. There is a small cushion built into the estimate to account for fluctuations in construction costs, but the price will be guaranteed not to go over $24 million. However, it’s also important to understand that there has been no cushion built into the quality of construction materials and systems. The estimate is based on a facility that must last for decades of heavy use, and the materials should be of a quality that can match the need. This hospital will not be extravagant, but it will be functional, durable, allow for future growth and be aesthetically pleasing. It will be a facility that people will be proud of, and one that will attract physicians and services far into the future. People should be wary of constructing a hospital of lower quality materials and systems in order to shave up-front costs; this will turn out to be more expensive in the long run. The best option is to find a good balance between cost and quality, which is why we’re working with experienced medical designers and builders that have successfully constructed hospitals in the past.