LA GRANGE EDC APPROVES $500,000 IN FUNDS FOR ST. MARK’S
The Hospital Center of Excellence took another step forward to taking over management of the St. Mark’s Medical Center in La Grange.
The La Grange Economic Development Corporation approved up to $500,000 in funds at their September 5th meeting to pay for repairs at the hospital.
HCOE Chief Strategy Officer Sam Wilson said that these funds were the last piece they needed to move forward.
According to the Fayette County Record, the original estimate to make the transition was $8.5 million. However, when HCOE got access to the books and records so they could see real numbers, they got the total down to $5.3 million.
After securing $4.8 million in funding from various sources, the $500,000 from the La Grange EDC was all they needed.
Wilson said that the funds will be used to replace the roof, and repair water intrusion areas inside the hospital caused by the leaking roof. There are also two chillers that provide air conditioning to the hospital, one that they feel can be fixed, but the other will need to be replaced.
Board members asked about St. Mark’s having a current Rural Emergency Hospital designation, which brought in an extra $3.3 million in funding, but as a side effect, they had to discontinue inpatient care.
Wilson said they are hopeful of dropping the REH designation in three years, and bringing back inpatient care.
The Record said that the funds were approved by the board without dissent.
HCOE is hoping to complete the transition by September 29.