Quincy considers physical therapy remodel

QUINCY — Quincy Valley Medical Center commissioners voted Monday to ask the owner of a future physical therapy building to pay for a remodel before the hospital moves in.

The hospital wants to offer outpatient physical therapy at 406 S. Central Ave. A drafted agreement specifies the hospital pay $113,700 of a $177,770 remodeling project for the building. The hospital would pay rent to the owner.

Commissioners voted to ask the owner to instead fund the entire remodel, with the cost reflected in the rent of the building. If a new agreement is not reached, they plan to proceed as the draft agreement specifies.

Director of Maintenance Ritch Hansen said he is hoping the building is open by April 1.

Some commissioners had reservations about the cost of the project.

Commissioner Darrell Van Dyke said construction renovation is $80,000 and includes no new walls. It includes framing, sheet rock, paint, doors, windows and other improvements. He did not believe the hospital was getting its money's worth.

Commissioner Randy Zolman had similar questions.

"Can we build a building on campus cheaper?" Zolman asked.

Hospital Administrator Mehdi Merred said he did not think the hospital could do a better job for $113,700.

"But it will be ours," responded Van Dyke.

Merred noted he still plans on building a brand new hospital, with a potential construction date of 2012. In 2009, the hospital plans to examine its profitability, and then it plans to study the feasibility of a new hospital and explore financing options.

The hospital currently offers outpatient surgery from its nursing home, Merred said. It is not very comfortable, there are infection control issues for nursing home patients, and the facility cannot handle a large volume of patients, he said. It would continue offering its inpatient service in addition to services at the new building.

The hospital saw 427 physical therapy patients in the past month, Merred said. Patients must wait a week for an evaluation, sometimes two or three weeks, he said.

"We are booked," he said. "I mean, we are booked to the max."