An Outreach meeting for California and Tipton residents was conducted on Friday, Sept. 13, by Capital Region Medical Center (CRMC) at Nic Nac Café, California. The overview of the planned expansion of the hospital with information on consolidation of outpatient services and plans to align with the direction healthcare delivery is moving.
Groundbreaking is expected to be the fall of 2013 for the 125,000 square foot expansion of the Madison Street hospital campus in Jefferson City.
The plans are to consolidate many of the specialty physician services into one location which would be easily accessible with 30-to 35 physicians in one new building. The building should cost $25 to $28 million. With the offices and rooms fully equipped, the cost should be about $35 million. The center has the cash, so will build it since the board doesn't want to borrow the money for the project.
CEO Ed Farnsworth informed those present of the plans for the new building and spoke about meeting the health needs. As a part of insuring sufficient physicians, CRMC is recruiting physicians earlier in their training.
Others who spoke included member of the Board of Directors Lorelei Schwartz, President of the Foundation Board Jack Curtit and Chairman of the Board of Directors Jack Pletz.
Some of the factors considered have been a result of a Community Health Needs assessment to identify factors influencing health status, determine issues of greatest concern and prioritizing them and identifying unmet health needs.
The assessment also sought to "produce a source of reliable information that supports development of solutions."
All of this is with a goal of improving the health of 130,000 residents of Cole, Miller, Moniteau and Osage counties.
During the meeting, it was announced that the name of the California Clinic has been changed to Capital Region Physicians - California. The California staff present included Alicia Doss, Stephanie Girten and Dr. Todd McCluskey.
It was also announced that local residents Ann Perry and Sarah Holtsclaw are now members of the hospital's Board of Governors.