Henry County Health Center plans moving forward on projects

MT. PLEASANT - The Henry County Health Center will look to start several facility upgrades and infrastructure projects in the coming fiscal year.

Chief Financial Officer David Muhs gave an overview of the hospital's quarterly financial report and reported the hospital intends to convert a sunroom at Park Place Elder Living, the nursing home run by the hospital, into a visiting center as well as considering converting several rooms in the home into negative air pressure rooms and replacing cloth furniture with more easily wipeable materials.

In his report, Muhs said the hospital also negotiated a new contract with insurance company Blue Cross, which is expected to lead to better payments.

Overall, Muhs said the hospital was able 'to make bottom line” of their budget with assistance through the CARES Act. Through the federal program, the hospital received $5.6 million of which $2.4 million has not yet been used.

In working with networking hardware company Cisco Systems, the hospital plans to sign a contract to receive 16 network switches for $113,000. Chief Executive Officer Robb Gardner explained the hospital usually purchases four new switches per year for $55,000. The 16 new switches would last the hospital for at least the next five. The board voted to approve the purchase of the new technology equipment.

Gardner reviewed the hospital's infrastructure update with the board, which includes putting in new chilling and cooling towers. Gardner said the hospital still uses original air handling units installed in 1967. Gardner said he expects bids to come back in September.

'We're going to improve our efficiency quite a bit,” Gardner said of putting in new air conditioning and cooling towers.

'We're in critical status with the cooling towers and air handler units. We can get by, but we can't put it off too long,” Muhs said.

Muhs added an 'unbudgeted roof repair” would be presented to the board at its August meeting.