GRH looking forward to future purchases

Although 2026 has just begun, Greater Regional is already looking ahead through 2029 in organizing a three-year capital budget which will begin with the 2027 fiscal year.

A capital budget is used for any new item purchases, ranging from facilities improvements to new equipment. Greater Regional’s proposed capital budget, presented last Monday by Chief Financial Officer Matt McCutchan, described the hospital’s upcoming plans.

Within this budget, the first year of capital projects in the 2027 fiscal year was mapped out. For the first year, and a budget of $8.545 million, Greater Regional will look to expand their radiology department, improve siding at the Crest Ridge Estates, improve wall and flooring on the patient care floor and purchase major equipment for radiology, surgery and information technology.

Each item planned in the capital budget will need to be presented on an individual basis to the board for approval before any purchase is made. Greater Regional’s budget will need additional approval from their affiliate partner UnityPoint Health.

For example, four capital requisitions were approved during last Monday’s meeting. The first of these is a new medical gas system used primarily for newborns and anesthesia. The previous system had failed, with the hospital running with portable med gases in the interim.

This new system from Beacon Medaes will cost $98,700 with an installation cost with Camblin Mechanical and Bartlett Electric for a contingency of $8,000. Total cost was approved for $106,700.

A 400-gallon water heater will be purchased. The new heater will join another water heater which requires repairs. Parts from the heater to be replaced will be used to repair the other heater.

Acquiring the new heater from Nichols will cost $67,688.50. Repairing and installing the second heater will cost an additional $11,000. Both of these projects, along with a contingency cost, totaled at $87,000.

For the hospital’s cardiology department, a new stress-testing system will be purchased for $37,116.11. The original item was budgeted at $50,000. Greater Regional noted 300 stress tests are completed per year, with recent growth to the hospital’s cardiology department likely to encourage more tests.

Finally, a NIM System for the hospital’s surgical department will be acquired for $49,500. The system is used during the Inspire procedure which assists patients with sleep apnea who are unable to use CPAP machines. Greater Regional has offered the procedure before but used rented equipment.

In other Greater Regional news...

A public hearing for Greater Regional’s proposed budget to the county was set for the hospital’s next regular meeting on Feb. 23. The proposed budget for the 2027 fiscal year will not increase from the last.

With 2026 in swing, Greater Regional’s slate of officers were approved. No changes were made; Tom Lesan will continue to serve as chairman, Jack Davis as vice chairman and Ken Stults as secretary/treasurer. Committee service remains unchanged.