HSCMH Master Plan meeting

Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital hosted two evening discussions featuring representatives from Erdman and interested members of the Hot Springs County community to discuss the ongoing Master Building Plan process.

Erdman collaborates with healthcare organizations to improve profitability, patient satisfaction and staff satisfaction by helping them meet their business goals.

The discussions, which were attended by over a dozen members of the community, featured an hour-long presentation by Erdman representatives who each explained one portion of the project.

Rustin Becker, Erdman Executive Vice President of Strategic Planning, opened the discussion with a breakdown of the Conceptual Building Study by explaining in great detail the research the firm has undertaken to give adequate understanding of the needs of the Hot Springs community in terms of a healthcare facility.

Becker explained market research and county demographics that dictate improvements the Building Master Plan will suggest. He made special note of the fact that 31% of the county’s population is aged 45-64, and a further 23% of the population is over 65 years of age.

Becker, who has worked on Erdman projects throughout the nation, noted that the hospital should start to focus more on out-patient care as advances in medical science allow formerly dangerous procedures to become quick and pain-free.

Tim Casey, Erdman’s Vice President of Architecture, then explained to the audience various suggestions for future building design. Casey was quick to tell the audience that the brief pen-and-paper sketches shown were at the very beginning of the planning process, and no designs have been seriously considered yet.

Casey also explained how Master Building Plan options will be developed, including circulation patterns of both staff and patients, a study of the existing facility footprint, and more efficient layout of hospital facilities and wings. Casey noted one of his priorities is, “Making sure the building is the right size,” for the community and the services it will offer.

Before the presentation, Becker and Casey spent the day in individual meetings with each department and walking around and through the existing medical facility. The walkthrough was done to study existing infrastructure, whether mechanical, physical, or electrical. Both the walkthrough and the meetings with staff are crucial to developing a comprehensive program to repurpose current space or develop new space.

Although extensive study has already been undertaken, Casey and Becker were quick to tell community members that, “We don’t know [what changes will occur] at this stage. We’re still very early in the process.”

Casey added that, “It is not clear how much, if anything, will be built. It’s really up in the air.”

Holding the discussion at this stage of the planning process allowed community members to voice their opinions on current building studies, while also allowing them to understand the thorough planning process currently undertaken by Erdman and hospital staff.

Becker said the Master Building Plan will be completed by the end of November, much to the surprise of audience members.

When a community member asked if Becker knew that was two weeks away, Becker responded in the affirmative, noting that Erdman employees were working hard to complete the plan.