Hillsboro Community Medical Center gets new entrance, lobby
Work to be completed by December
Staff writer
Major changes are occurring at Hillsboro Community Medical Center, including a new entrance, lobby, and remodeled bathrooms.
"Before you couldn't really tell that the old entrance was the entrance," said Mike Ryan, HCMC CEO. "It will be much more recognizable."
The new entrance will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and will include a ramp for wheelchair access and automated doors.
Until now, the only wheelchair accessible entrance to the center has been the emergency room entrance. This change will not only make the facility more accessible, but more convenient for patients, staff, and visitors.
The remodeled lobby will be bright with the addition of windows and more open space.
It will have a concession area and two check in/reception windows. One window will be for standing visitors, and one for visitors at wheelchair height. Off the lobby there will be a family consult room. Doctors can use the room to consult privately with patients and their families. The room also can be used to make private phone calls, or billing questions can be addressed privately.
The bathrooms are being remodeled to be in ADA compliance, and a diaper changing station also is being added.
In addition to the visible changes, billing, human resources, and the medical records areas will receive an updated system.
"There were dozens of things we wanted to do and couldn't afford," said Ryan.
Money for renovations came from a tax credit program HCMC applied for in early 2004. They were awarded $250,000 in tax credits in July 2004, and according to Ryan that is the highest tax credit award.
The program allows taxpayers who donate to organizations awarded the tax credit, to get a credit at tax time. Hillsboro is a 70 percent community, according to Ryan. Therefore, if someone donated $10,000 to the HCMC project, they would be eligible to get $7,000 in tax credits.
Ryan said the program was not widely known, and he had talked to CPAs about the program.
The rest of 2004 was spent researching how to spend the tax credits and soliciting donations. In order to get the full $250,000 in tax credits, Ryan said they needed $375,000 in donations, and it took until December 2004, to raise the money. After the funds were raised, HCMC had one year to spend the money on renovations.
In addition to the tax credit program, HCMC raised approximately $10,000 at its annual golf tournament. The money from the golf tournament will be used for new carpet.
HCMC broke ground on the project in June, and expects to be completed in December.
Coonrod and Associates is in charge of the improvement project, and Ray Penner is the principal on the job. They began work on the outside first, so when the weather gets cold they can work inside.
Several times over the past few months the hospital staff has had to move people or departments in order for construction to continue.
"We've had to be pretty flexible in the process," said Ryan.
Improvements not only will bring the facility into com
pliance with the ADA, but will help patients and perceptions as well.
"Patients do better when they are in a facility that looks good," said Ryan. "It's perceived care."
Perception also plays a part in what the general public assumes about a hospital, its staff, and its technology.
"We want the center to look as up-to-date on the outside as it is on the inside," said Ryan.
