Fremont-Rideout OKs $225 million in renovations
May 31, 2011 11:30:00 PM
By Nancy Pasternack
Appeal-Democrat
Rideout Memorial Hospital's expansion plans are back on track after a reduction in the project's scale, and approval for $225 million in funding from the hospital's board of directors.
The project, which aims to convert the hospital in Marysville to a regional medical center, had originally featured plans for an eight-story tower rising above the main entrance.
The new plan has six floors and adds about 215,000 square feet to the existing facility, according to hospital officials.
A helicopter landing pad still is scheduled to be built atop the new structure to accommodate medical transport helicopters.
Construction is set to begin in October and is expected to be completed by December 2014, according to Fremont-Rideout Health Group CEO Terri Hamilton.
Expansion of the emergency room area, she said, is a key priority. "That will definitely make things easier for all people seeking care," Hamilton said, "and for staff and physicians to provide care in ways that are more satisfying to patients."
The hospital recently received a "poor" overall patient experience grade on a California Healthcare Foundation report card.
The nonprofit health policy research group publishes quarterly survey results comparing 240 hospitals throughout the state, via Calhospital compare.org.
Overcrowded emergency rooms have plagued hospitals across the country for years, but Rideout's share is roughly twice its capacity, Hamilton said.
The facility sees about 55,000 patients a year in its emergency room "and 80 percent don't require emergency care," Hamilton said.
Emergency room expansion is expected to be completed in late 2013 — a year ahead of the tower, she said.
Pre-construction demolition and underground utilities work for the overall construction project began in late 2009 and had been completed, "on time and on budget," Hamilton said.
Hospital officials originally hoped to complete construction by the end of 2012, but economic recession forced an extended delay.
The new plan will be funded through the hospital group's reserves and by borrowing through a bond issuance around the time that construction is set to resume later this year, Hamilton said.
"There's no additional costs to patients or to the community," she said.
In addition to funding construction of the medical tower, the $225 million includes FRHG's $18 million share for plans that will double the size of the Cancer Center at Rideout.
That project has been developed in partnership with U.C. Davis, and a contract has been awarded to Hilbers Inc. of Yuba City.
Talks about moving forward a more modest version of the overall Rideout project began five months ago, according to Tony Moddesette, vice president of facilities and projects for FRHG.
In March, he said, he was given directions to reduce the building's dimensions.
He eliminated 52,000 square feet from the plan, which reduced the estimated cost by $30 million, he said.
Included in the augmented portions were an entire floor that had been included in original plans but set aside for future growth.
Moddesette said he cut 36 medical surgery beds and converted a room slated for an additional computed tomography — or CT scan — into an endoscopy suite for examinations of internal organs.
The additional space still includes about 100 new patient rooms, most of which will be private, Moddesette said.
CONTACT reporter Nancy Pasternack at 749-4712.
