(KTTS News) — The USDA Rural Development Missouri Director says Citizens Memorial Hospital District has been awarded a $57.7 million loan to expand and modernize the hospital.
State director Kyle Wilkens says several local banks have partnered with the USDA to fund $19.2 million of the $77 million project.
The project includes several upgrades and additions to hospital facilities, which is expected to be 124,750 square feet (including 102,500 square feet of expansion and 22,250 square feet of renovation) when finished.
The hospital was originally opened for operation in September 1982 with funding from the USDA Farmers Home Administration, a predecessor to USDA Rural Development.
Press Release
USDA Rural Development Missouri State Director Kyle Wilkens, today announced the agency is investing $57,750,000 through the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program for expansion and upgrading Citizens Memorial Hospital District of Polk County.
Since this is a project of considerable cost, that affects such a large service area, several local area banks partnered with USDA to help fund $19,250,000 of this project which totals $77,000,000.
The hospital was originally opened for operation in September 1982 with funding from the USDA Farmers Home Administration, a predecessor to USDA Rural Development.
This acute care hospital provides inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care services as well as ambulance and physician clinic services for Bolivar and the surrounding area.
“The hospital is in dire need of an update to its facilities so that current medical demands of the community can be met,” said State Director Wilkens. “The planned expansion of the hospital facility has been developing over the past several years with hospital leadership, board of directors, and the community. All are supportive of this project and USDA Rural Development is proud to provide funding.”
The Rural Development investment will be used to renovate and expand the main Citizens Memorial Hospital (CMH) building in Bolivar.
The facility was originally constructed in the 1980s, expanded in the 1990s and early 2000s.
The Emergency Department (ED), Surgical Unit, and Intensive and Progressive Care Units (ICU and PCU) occasionally have issues properly accommodating the needs of the public due to age, condition, size, number of rooms, lack of updated ventilation, and the need to provide various new levels of patient containment.
As such, these departments are being pushed beyond their expected capabilities/capacities in trying to meet the current patient demands.
The project includes several upgrades and additions to hospital facilities, which is expected to be 124,750 square feet (including 102,500 square feet of expansion and 22,250 square feet of renovation) when finished.
Planned improvements include:
- Medical/Surgical: Transitioning all rooms from semi-private to private, increasing pediatric rooms from one to six, and increasing ICU beds from eight to twelve.
- Surgery: Adding a third operating room and shell of a room that could house a fourth operating room in the future.
- Emergency Room: Increasing beds from twelve to twenty-one and adding of a six-bed unit designed specifically for behavioral health patients.
- Cardiac Cath: Constructing two cardiac catheter units and replacing the current modular unit to support planned growth in cardiology department.
- Laboratory: Consolidating off-site location due to growth in tests performed in recent years.
- Cafeteria and Dietary: Expanding for improved experience for patients and visitors.
- Facilities: Upgrades to ventilation, filtration, air handling, boilers, chillers, water heaters, medical vacuum pumps, and fire alarms.
When complete, Citizens Memorial Hospital District of Polk County, Missouri will be better able to serve the more than 136,000 residents in its eight-county service area.
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas.
This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety, and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal, and high-poverty areas.
