MDH Plans Expansion of Health Services Building II

MACOMB, IL– McDonough District Hospital is planning to expand Health Services Building II as it prepares for the arrival of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist Dr. Jeff Sparks, who has entered into an agreement with MDH to begin practice following the completion of his residency in summer 2013.

The expansion will provide office space for Sparks and future space for three more physician practice offices to accommodate an additional 6 or 7 doctors, according to the plans approved by the MDH Board at its Feb. 21 meeting. The proposal is to provide two floors for office space and a full basement addition to the building while utilizing the existing lobby space and elevator system in HSB II. Initial plans would include finished space for the ENT office complex. Other spaces would remain unfinished so future practices could have input on modification of the space.

“The architect estimates a cost range of $3 to $4 million for building the basic shell, including improvements to meet the specific needs of an ENT, site preparation and engineering fees,” said MDH President/CEO Kenny Boyd. “We are preparing for future physician recruitment and considering consolidation of current employed physicians which we have in numerous office spaces in the Health Services Building.”

The Board approved a plan to negotiate a construction agreement in accordance with provisions of the Hospital District Law. An independent third party estimate for the project will be obtained as part of the building process. A construction agreement and financing plan will be brought back to the Board for final approval.

“This spring we will complete the laboratory expansion, creation of a west stairwell and elevator, and improvements to radiology, which will accommodate a new 160 detector row CT scanner which will decrease procedure time and reduce the patient radiation exposure dramatically,” said MDH President/CEO Kenny Boyd. “These improvements upgrade our patient service areas and technology to enable community residents to continue to receive high quality diagnostic services and patient care close to home.”

The improvements complement 2010 enhancements to the digital mammography unit and a dressing room area, outpatient surgical waiting areas, admitting and patient financial services on the main hospital entrance corridor.

During January the hospital renovated the MDH Orthopedic building at the west edge of the campus, now the site of Western Illinois Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Center, the office location for Dr. Ronald Wheeler.

“We are actively involved in strategic and facilities planning to determine how best to update our facility to serve outpatient needs more efficiently and renovate traditional semi-private patient rooms into private room space for inpatient care, “Boyd said. “These efforts are important as we prepare for the emergency room expansion and other renovations to create a more patient oriented facility in the changing health care services environment.”