Hospital Forum will be Broadcast Live by LakeChelanNow
A LakeChelanNow.com production. Artists’ rendering courtesy of LCCH
Lake Chelan Community Hospital is moving forward with plans for the construction of a new hospital. The board has scheduled a District Forum in order to provide an opportunity for the public to be updated on the status of the project. The forum will be held Wednesday, May 8 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Chelan Senior Center.
Voters approved a $20-million bond in 2017 to help fund the construction of a new hospital at a total cost of $44.5 million. Other major funding would come from a USDA grant that was secured in 2018 as well as contributions from the hospital and the LCCH Foundation.
Just last month, the hospital board approved a revised “space program” that included a significant change in the planned square footage going from 77,000 sq. ft. to 54,000 sq. ft. Along with the new space program, the Board also voted to proceed to the schematic design phase of the project. It is hoped that construction of the new facility at Apple Blossom Court near Walmart will begin later this Fall.
According to LCCH CEO Steve Patonai, the new hospital building will provide sufficient services and volumes for the next five plus years, with growth areas to be designed for expansion when needed. The building will include a total of 21 hospital beds (nine medical/surgical/OB beds,10 Sanctuary beds, and two conversion beds that can be used for either department), two large operating room suites and a procedure room.
“There will be seven emergency department rooms and triage, as well as all required and anticipated outpatient and ancillary services for future growth”, said Patonai. Also, the Lake Chelan Clinic will be re-located to the hospital campus in the future.
As regards the May 8 public forum, LCCH Board Chair Phyllis Gleasman strongly encourages community attendance to gain a better understanding of what is happening with the new hospital, what the changes are and why the changes have been made.
Dennis Rahm Interviews Hospital Board Chair Phyllis Gleasman
Gleasman says the Board looks forward to an opportunity to update and answer questions about the new hospital.
When asked about the hospital-owned clinic on Johnson Avenue, Gleasman says that eventually it needs to be located within the hospital and plans will be designed to allow for that later.
The status of the clinic and the downsizing of square footage from what was originally planned are the types of questions the hospital board expects to be asked.
Hospital Forum will be video streamed live on LakeChelanNow.com
The District Forum on the new hospital will be held at the Chelan Senior Center at 534 East Trow from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm on Wednesday, May 8.
For those unable to attend, LakeChelanNow will be providing a Facebook Live video stream as well as a live audio stream on our website at www.lakechelannow.com.
