TCHS Breaks Ground for Construction
On August 2, Thayer County Health Services held a groundbreaking ceremony for the 2015 Rehab and Wellness Project at the hospital in Hebron. Over 125 people were in attendance at this ceremony that marked the beginning of the renovation and expansion project for the hospital. This project is scheduled to begin later this month and will be completed in four phases over the next 22 months.
Remarks at the ceremony were given by Michael Burcham, CEO for TCHS, Chris Roth, President of the Board of Trustees and Laura Redoutey, President of the Nebraska Hospital Association. Also in attendance were honored guests; Ken Korff from Tucson, AZ, and Senator Laura Ebke, Representative for District 32 in Nebraska.
The initial phase of the project is the new Korff Family Rehab and Wellness Center, a 17,000 sq. ft. addition being built off the north side of the lower level of the hospital. Funding for this $6.9 million dollar facility was made possible with a gift from the Glenn Korff estate. The new wellness center will provide a place for residents of Thayer County to improve or maintain their fitness level throughout the year. The projected completion date for phase I is estimated to be August of 2016.
Phase II of the project will be the renovation of the area where the rehab department is currently located. This area of the hospital will be remodeled into a modern kitchen and cafeteria. When finished, this new space will provide an inviting place for patients, visitors and employees to get something to eat or drink throughout the day. There will also be a meeting room located within the cafeteria to make it easier to provide catering services for meetings and events held in the hospital.
Phase III of the project will separate three key services Thayer County Health Services currently provides into their own space. These areas are: the Specialty Clinic which will be moved to where the kitchen and cafeteria are currently located, the Emergency Room will move across from the nurses’ station and the Labor and Delivery room will become two Labor and Delivery suites for new Moms and their newborns. Separating these services means they will all gain more space to improve the care they provide to patients.
Phase IV will add an additional Operating Room to the hospital surgery center. This will allow physicians to have more flexibility and availability to perform surgeries at the hospital in Hebron. Patients can have more procedures done locally, which will reduce their travel time to receive care.
To assist in funding phase II, the kitchen and cafeteria remodel, the Foundation for Thayer County Health Services will be conducting a capital campaign, “Investing in Healthier Tomorrows.” The goal set for the campaign is $1 million in gifts and pledges in support for the project. This fundraising effort will be used to reduce the amount of debt Thayer County Health Services will have to incur to fund the overall project.
For questions regarding the project or the capital campaign, call Rita Luongo, TCHS development director, at 402-768-4636 or email her at rluongo@tchsne.org.
Pictured: Dave Bruning, Thayer County Commissioner; Karen Else, Secretary TCHS Board of Trustees; Laura Redoutey, President of the Nebraska Hospital Association; Libby Heitmann, TCHS Board of Trustees; Laura Ebke, Senator for District 32; Nancy Hofts, Vice President TCHS Board of Trustees; Steve Anderson, Foundation for TCHS President; Ken Korff, representative from Glenn Korff Estate; Mike Burcham, TCHS CEO; Chris Roth, President TCHS Board of Trustees; Chris Frye, Thayer County Commissioner; Dean Kruger, Thayer County Commissioner; Loren Wiedel, Treasurer TCHS Board of Trustees; and Dr. Scott Vonderfecht, Chief of Medical Staff for TCHS.
