By Mary-Justine Lanyon
Editor
The hospital gift shop has reopened. The pharmacy relocation has run into some “bumps.”
That was part of the construction update delivered to the Mountains Community Hospital board of directors at their July 24 meeting by CEO Mark Turner.
The hospital Auxiliary, which runs the gift shop, is understandably delighted to have their shop open again. They raise funds for the hospital through the sale of a variety of items. The shop is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Jeanne Hoy, the Auxiliary president, cautions shoppers that they currently have no credit card capability but can take cash or checks. The Foundation office, she added, is working on getting a credit card machine for the gift shop.
They are waiting for the countertops to be installed in the pharmacy, Turner said. And they need state permission to relocate an electrical outlet.
As for the new parking area, MCH has county approval to move forward with the additional parking on the lower part of the hospital property. The bids came in higher than expected, Turner said, with the lowest coming from a mountain company. He was waiting to seek board approval pending further discussion.
Groundbreaking on new construction has been pushed from October to at least January, Turner said, as they are waiting for state approval on Phase 1. Once the approval is received, they will order the underground tanks, which will take six months to receive.
“People have asked about the weather,” Turner said. “The ground doesn’t freeze and, if it snows, that would delay construction just a week.”
Other work that has been recently accomplished is painting the exterior of the hospital and replacing the siding on the medical office building. They also plan to do some renovation work at the rural health clinic.
Steffanie Miller, the facilities assistant manager, added some updates. They have just completed Phase 1 of NPC1 – the seismic update – and are waiting for the final signoff.
They have completed all open projects in the Skilled Nursing Facility, including installing new cabinets and counters at the nursing station; painting the hall, break room and nurses station; installing new LED lights on dimmers so they can be turned down at night; and installing a new double sink at both regular height and ADA height so residents in wheelchairs can use it.
“The residents are so excited, as are the nurses and visitors,” Miller said. She added that the residents helped decide the paint colors.
As Chief Financial Officer Yvonne Waggener reviewed the year-end financials and the proposed 2026 capital improvements budget, Miller pointed out several projects her facilities crew will take on in-house. Using the hospital’s own staff rather than employing outside contractors will save MCH a considerable amount of money.
For example, replacing the cabinets and countertop in the conference room in the medical office building was budgeted at a cost of $20,000. Miller said her staff will do the work at a fraction of the cost.
The new X-ray machine was included in the capital improvement budget but the funds necessary for that purchase were raised at Le Grand Picnic, which raised $470,000. Peter Venturini, president of the MCH Foundation board, thanked the hospital board members for their participation at the picnic. He noted that was the most ever raised at the event. “I don’t know how we’ll do better next year,” he said, “but we seem to every year.”
Gerry Hinkley, president of the hospital board, noted that “the Foundation is such an important contributor to our success. Thank you for the dedication of your board. It makes the hospital look good. And it gives us an opportunity to bring more people into the hospital family.”
In his CEO report, Turner said they are still trying to understand the impact potential changes in MediCal funding will have on MCH. “I hope to have more details next month,” he said.
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