Samaritan Clinic project on hold

MOSES LAKE — A project to remodel the first floor of Samaritan Clinic is on hold while the heating-cooling systems are inspected.

Remodeling the clinic was one of the capital projects approved for 2017 by the hospital district board. The board approved $950,000 for the project, with specific plans to be submitted in January. But, said chief executive officer Teresa Sullivan, during the various cold snaps in December and January “we noticed that the clinic was quite cold, especially on that main level area.”

Hospital officials hired a consultant to inspect the heating-cooling system, with the report available by the first week in February. But that report – and any recommendations that might come from it – won’t be ready, Sullivan said. Hospital district officials decided to wait until that report had been delivered, rather than proceed with the project and find out later they needed to make changes to the project.

In answer to a question from board member Alan White, Sullivan said the original completion timeline is about six to eight months. Because the clinic will be open during the remodeling, the work has to be completed in stages.

Board member Tom Frick asked how patients will be accommodated while construction is underway. Sullivan said some planning has been done. “We’ve walked through a bit of a process,” but hospital officials decided to put any more planning on hold until any issues with the heating-cooling systems are resolved.

In other business at the regular board meeting Tuesday, board members were updated on a remodeling project in the hospital emergency room.

The capital projects plan for 2017 included an extensive remodel of the emergency room, and that project will begin its second phase (of eight phases) in mid-February. Kris Neff, the hospital’s new chief operating officer, said the project is “on schedule and on time, and for the most part, I believe on budget.” Board members have approved a total project cost of $1.18 million.

Three rooms will be dedicated to “flex care,” which will allow treatment for conditions like low-grade fevers or sore throats. Sullivan said it was important to emphasize the emergency room is for emergency cases, to avoid any confusion. Non-emergency cases have the option of the urgent care department at Samaritan Clinic, she said.

Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.