Memorial Health officials today are expected to unveil capital improvements totaling almost $40 million over the next two years to improve the medical provider’s service to Chatham County.
The presentation before the Chatham County Commission will be Maggie Gill’s first appearance before the full board since the county agreed on March 23 to guarantee about $183 million in bonds for the parent company of Memorial University Medical Center to refinance hospital debt and free up funds for service improvements.
“We’ve told the county we were targeting what services would best serve our community and were in need,” said Gill, Memorial president and CEO.
Included in the projects are:
• $15 million for renovation and expansion of the emergency department to almost double the treatment areas from 45 to 75.
• $9 million to expand the Heart and Vascular Institute to include additional critical and intermediate care beds to serve the sickest patients in the community.
• $11.5 million to expand the surgical services by adding one in-patient and four out-patient operating rooms.
• $2.6 million expansion of neonatal unit’s in- and out-patient services to include an additional eight beds and a labor and delivery room.
In addition, a $2.2 million renovation of The Children’s Hospital, financed by private donations to the Memorial Health Foundation, has been completed, she said.
For Gill, it will be a chance to assure the commission the health care provider is meeting its pledges made to obtain the bond refinancing.
As part of the agreement, Gill said Memorial is working with the county on evaluating its wellness program and helping to renegotiate the county jail’s medical contract.
Gill said the Memorial Health system showed a net income of $3.4 million on Oct. 31.
The region’s largest health care provider includes a 610-bed hospital and employs about 4,500 individuals with an annual payroll, including salary and benefits, of about $250 million.
“Let’s be clear that these dollars are specifically allocated to capital projects based on community need,” Gill said.
“Memorial’s margins remain tight in large part because so many in our community are funded by Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare or are uninsured.
“We are working hard to create efficiencies, deliver excellent care and strengthen the organization.”
Gill said the capital improvements were arrived at over a six-month vetting process for significant infrastructure improvements to the Memorial campus.
Since then, a health system team has met quarterly with County Finance Director Linda Cramer to review finances, and the areas it has committed to help the community, Gill said.
Some of the plans, such as the emergency department expansion, will take between 18 and 24 months to complete.
Currently the emergency department sees 100,000 visits annually in a space built to accommodate 45,000 visits, she said.
The emergency department contains the region’s only Level One trauma care center.
“It’s a heavily phased project,” she said.
At the heart of the Memorial plan is the emphasis on local employment participation.
“It’s all about the community, saving lives and taking care of patients,” Gill said.
ON THE WEB
To view Maggie Gill’s discussion of planned capital improvements, go to savannahnow.com