One facility at 39th and Selsa would replace city's two existing hospitals
By Ben Embry
The Examiner
HCA officials have narrowed their property search for a new hospital to replace Independence Regional Health Center and the Medical Center of Independence down to a site in southeast Independence.
Although the deal has not been finalized, according to HCA officials, the plot of land is 80 acres on the northwest corner of 39th Street and Selsa Road in Independence, where the Glendale Station development had been planned.
"We are very excited about the opportunity to have a full-service, tertiary facility located at one central location for the physicians and residents of Eastern Jackson County and surrounding areas," said Mike Chappelow, president/CEO of IRHC and MCI.
HCA announced last month that it was looking at several sites in Independence for a replacement hospital but nothing had been confirmed until Wednesday.
According to HCA officials, both hospitals will remain open until the new facility is complete, which is likely to take two to three years.
Angela Connelly, director of public relations, said HCA had not made any decisions about the future of either existing hospital once the new facility is in operation.
But, as The Examiner reported last month, a new hospital would mean complete consolidation for staff and patients, prompting speculation that a consolidation would mean layoffs.
"The goal is to get all the services together in one central location where our patients can go for their medical needs," Connelly said.
That means trauma center services, now at Independence Regional, and the maternity ward, currently at MCI, would be in one place. It also means HCA could eliminate duplications in administration, equipment and supplies.
Nurses United, a union group representing nurses at several HCA hospitals, including MCI, has not taken a position on a new hospital. Julie Ginther, Nurses United coordinator, said the the group's concerns remain the same whether a new hospital was built or not.
"Our hope, as patient advocates, is the community getting patient-care services that it needs," she said, adding that the union had not heard any news that there would be staff cuts.
"We can't even imagine that they would consider fewer nurses on the floor," she said.
Independence Regional staffs 200 doctors and has about 1,000 employees serving 363 inpatient beds and outpatient services. MCI is slightly smaller with 200 physicians and 600 employees serving 182 beds and outpatients.
The hospitals were purchased by Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA in April, along with 10 other area hospitals formerly operated by Health Midwest. During the purchase talks, HCA officials said they might consider building a new hospital in the area but had no solid plans.
The sales deal required that any new facility had to be located within 8 miles of the existing hospitals.
To reach Ben Embry, send e-mail to ben.embry@examiner.net or call him at 350-6323.
