John Geissler of DSGW Architects gave an update on the $22.5 million hospital/care center renovation and addition at the North Shore Hospital Board meeting on Thursday, March 19, 2015.
“We’re crossing our Ts and dotting the Is” said Geissler, adding that seven people at DSGW have been working around the clock to finish the plans.
All of the drawings should be wrapped up by April 17 and bids should be let soon after. Bids will be received May 14, with work expected to begin in early June.
The first phase will include adding two wings to the Care Center and footings poured for the addition to the hospital rooms and for the new entrance to the hospital. The first phase work should be completed by next February or March, said Geissler.
Geissler introduced Ruth Drake from Boldt as the on-site project manager. Drake graduated with a construction management degree from Purdue University. She said over the 30-year course of her career she has been a field engineer and project manager for hospitals and schools undergoing remodel. Drake plans to live in Cook County for the two-year operation. She has worked as a ski patrol and served on search & rescue squads in other places where she has lived.
Drake said her main concern would be to keep everything running smoothly while focusing on public safety during construction. Keeping open communications with all concerned parties is also high on her list. “I will keep everyone in the loop at all times,” she said.
What’s included in the renovation/addition?
The emergency room, lab, radiology, pharmacy, therapy (physical, occupational, and cardiac rehab), dietary and dining, and the entrance will all be relocated and updated.
There will be 16 private rooms in the hospital with 37 private rooms in the care center using the household concept.
A unified care team area for nurses and doctors will be built to serve the hospital, emergency rom and nursing home. The Care Center will have small care areas in each household. Surgery space will be developed and an outpatient space will be built. Hallways and waiting areas will feature local art.
Despite Hospital Board Member Sharon Bloomquist’s prompting, there will be no indoor waterfall/or water feature anywhere on the premises, said Maintenance Supervisor Rory Smith.
Questions and concerns about biomass
If a biomass heating plant is built, should the hospital/care center be a customer of the proposed Grand Marais biomass-heating district?
For the last couple of years there has been a push by Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP) to develop a district heating service that would use biomass to produce steam heat that would be sold to businesses, the courthouse, ISD 166 and the hospital/ care center.
Wraalstad said she and Maintenance Supervisor Rory Smith met recently with Mark Spur, President of FVB Energy, Grand Marais Mayor Jay Arrowsmith DeCoux, and CCLEP members George Wilkes, Paul Nelson and John Pragmarer regarding the biomass district heating system for Grand Marais.
A year ago Wraalstad gave questions to CCLEP that needed answering before there could be any serious discussion about the facility being connected to the heating system. The project became dormant and further discussions were suspended.
Wraalstad had asked 15 questions that needed answering from the biomass committee. One of those questions centered on the length of the contract. Wraalstad asked, “The contract allows for an automatic four percent increase in the capacity charge unless high inflation conditions exist, and then the amount could be higher. Cook County North Shore Hospital and Care Center would be in a 25-year contract with no termination clause.”
The 25-year contract with no opt out has been a sticking point with board members in the past.
It is anticipated those questions will be answered by the next meeting, said Wraalstad.
Home Health Care
Cook County will once again be able to purchase Home Health Care Services from the Cook County North Shore Hospital and Care Center for clients who are receiving care on a sliding fee basis.
The agreement calls for the county to pay up to $40,000 in 2015, the same as it paid in 2014.
With the new “Purchases of Services” contract in hand, Wraalstad said, “The Cook County Public Health Board continues their support of efforts to allow community members to remain in their home for as long s possible.”
Information Technology
Vera Schumann, director of finance and Gregory Johnson, information technology coordinator, presented information about the current information technology infrastructure and associated costs.
Financial report
Vera Schumann, director of finance, said there was a loss in operations of $165,000 for February, which put the hospital/care center at a loss of $334,000 year-to-date. Although the current loss is behind budget, the hospital/care center financial performance is ahead of last year. So of the loss is attributed to the expense incurred in paying for the architect’s expenses and other firms who are providing services in preparation for the hospital and care center building projects, Schumann said.
“Our accounts receivable over 90 days is reducing,” Schumann said. “Which is a good thing.”
“Because we are a municipal facility, we are able to participate in the Revenue Recapture Program which allows us to recover bad debts from tax returns,” Schumann said.
Celebrating 50 years
With 50 residents on hand and approximately 50 guests in attendance, a fun-filled 50th anniversary of the Cook County North Shore Care Center was held on Sunday, March 8. More celebrations are planned with a 50th anniversary Golden Gala that will be held Tuesday, May 11.
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