Patient satisfaction remains high during construction, says CEO

MARENGO — West May Street is closed from Western to Franklyn Avenues, and construction equipment and materials fill the former swimming pool and American Legion properties south of Compass Memorial Healthcare.

But the hospital hasn’t heard complaints about inconveniences, says Compass Chief Executive Officer Barry Goettsch.

“The public has been great,” said Goettsch. Patient satisfaction continues to be high despite the changes in traffic patterns caused by the hospital’s $30 million construction project.

Patient numbers continue to grow as well, Goettsch said. “The need for us to continue to expand is driven by the public.”

The hospital completed a $28 million expansion about 2018, said Goettsch.

The new project, funded by a $24 million low-interest, long-term loan and a $3 million loan MidWestOne Bank and $3 million in cash from the hospital, will add a new emergency wing that crosses May Street at Western Avenue.

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The addition will have eight treatment rooms and an infusion room as well as two covered ambulance bays replacing the circular driveway that exposed patients to the weather during transfer from ambulances to the emergency room.

The old emergency room entrance on May Street is closed. Temporary parking and a temporary entrance have been constructed on Western Avenue. The skeleton of the new emergency wing reaches from the hospital across May Street south of the hospital.

Construction of the new emergency department should be completed by next July or August, Goettsch said.

During the second phase of construction, two additions will be erected on the north side of the hospital and three patient rooms will be torn out and reconstructed as two larger patient rooms.

The old patient rooms are very small, said Goettsch. The hospital added five new patient rooms during its last construction project, he said.

The hospital will also add a second intensive care unit.

Phase three will add space for administrative offices north of the hospital. The current offices will be used for expansion of family medication and imaging, said Goettsch.

Compass will add specialty outpatient and cardiac rehab space.

The entire project is expected to be complete in 2027.

“For the most part, I think things are going very well,” said Plant Operations Manager Jesse Belez. Road closures were probably the most challenging part of the project, he said, but it wasn’t bad.

Hospital staff had to train patients to take West Main Street to Lafayette Avenue to reach the hospital, said Goettsch. Patients have learned the new route and taken the construction in stride.

“Our community is awesome,” said Goettsch, “and we have the best people working here. That’s why this is possible.”

The hospital continues to see an increased need for services, said Goettsch. “Already we’re talking about what the next project looks like.”

Compass purchases adjacent properties as they become available to keep the campus growing as patient need grows.

“It’s a great problem to have,” Goettsch said.