Latest Update on Memorial Medical Center's New Facility
Wednesday, January 3rd, 2018 -- 11:34 AM
-Here's the latest update on Memorial Medical Center's new facility.17 months ago MMC was notified by our auditors that Memorial Medical Center (MMC) became eligible for a governmental program through the USDA called Community Facilities Direct Loan Program. Our eligibility was based not only on our rural location but also the tremendous work our 250 employees that resulted in our first positive operating margin in 5 years. MMC is still on track for a May 2018 groundbreaking ceremony and completion winter 2019. As a healthcare administrator that sits on regional and national boards, Neillsville is in the minority for a small rural town to be on the hosting end of a 60 million dollar campus project (40 million MMC + 20 million Neillsville Care and Rehab) that is not tax supported. Actually over the past several years there have been over 80 rural hospital closures nationwide.
For the past 6 months we have been working with supportive city officials to identify steps to annex our proposed site on River Avenue. The sewer plan for the project is one of the last steps to secure funding. Our annexation journey has been focused on two consistent themes with common council, 1. To protect the taxpayers of any expense now or in the future and 2. Keep the environment safe. At the December 22nd utility meeting MMC made a third sewer proposal that met all above requirements. The discussion among utility/council members resulted in a request for the city attorney to inquire if MMC could access sewer without annexation. Since then, MMC was informed by the city attorney that this can be accomplished with a passing of an ordinance. The result of the passing of such an ordinance would keep this project in the town of Pine Valley vs. being annexed into city limits. MMC is relying on the suggestions of the utility/council members and desire to take the best steps for all concerned.
Any action that is recommended must be timely. It is important that MMC move efficiently on this construction project and cannot get delayed. The professional clinical staffs, consisting of medical providers, nurses, therapists and technologists are in demand throughout the region, and the idea of working in a technologically advanced facility helps retention and recruitment of trained employees. Timing also provides a platform for our medical center to be sustainable financially for many years to come.
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