Hospice facility to provide lodging for patient care

After an extensive search for a hospice care provider to work in Creston that did not reach its goal, Greater Regional Health will convert a portion of the hospice care facility into other services.

Greater Regional Health Chief Executive Officer Monte Neitizel said Monday. “We are going to pursue to turn the east side of the facility into a suite that can be used for individuals that their loved ones are going through cancer treatment as well as those coming from afar for Dr. Standing’s clinic.”

Neitzel said the east side will be converted into temporary lodging with a kitchen, dining room and bedroom. The other part of the building will be used for other patient care services.

“It is still going to be used for patient care, support and comfort,” Neitzel said. Neitzel said a specific timeline for the facility has not been determined.

“It’s been a draining process,” he said about finding another hospice care. “It’s frustrating but at the same time reality. We are excited we can continue to provide services in a wonderful and beautiful facility so our patients can benefit.”

EveryStep closed last fall because of staffing issues. Hospice care is still accessible in Creston.

In other board news:

The capital budget for fiscal year 2024 was approved. Chief Financial Officer Matt McCutchan said the approval does not confirm the items listed as it will only be a guide for review of each entry at a late date.

There is more than $39 million in the budget; $27 million for facilities including lab and clinic expansion in Creston, clinic work in Mount Ayr and the development of a clinic in Greenfield. The remaining $12 million is mostly for replacement of equipment and computer technology.

The board was informed of the planned replacement of four automated pharmaceutical dispense cabinets. The replacement is because of changes in computer operation.

The hospital’s plan for development of the former Walmart building has been suspended because of projected construction costs. Neitzel said any further work on the building will be at least a year. The building is being used by Creston school district and Southwestern Community College.

Approval was given for a second payment of $10,000 for Taylor County trail development near Lenox.

The board was provided information from the American Hospital Association about the condition rural hospitals across the country. According to the information, 46 million or 14% percent of the U.S. population is in rural areas. Hospitals provide a total $220 billion in economic activity. Rural hospitals support 1 in 12 rural jobs.

At the same time, rural hospitals’ cost for labor and supplies have increased. Medicare paid rural hospitals $5.8 billion less than the cost of care. Medicaid paid $1.2 billion less. Only 10% of U.S. physicians practice in rural areas. From 2010 to 2020 there have been 136 hospitals that have closed. In the year 2020, there were 19 that closed, the most in one year in that time frame.

Of the closures, 74% happened in states where Medicaid expansion as not places or had been in place for less than a year.

Board member Ken Stultz attended the meeting via telephone. Board members Dave Driskell and Sherry McKie were absent.