Published in the Iola Register on Nov. 3, 2010:

Voters say Yes!

By SUSAN LYNN susan@iolaregister.com

Quarter-cent sales tax approved

Tuesday, Allen Countians turned their backs on anti-tax fervor, convinced that better days lie ahead.

By a 3-to-1 margin, voters approved a quarter-cent sales tax to build a new Allen County Hospital. Voters in every city approved the measure, proof positive that voters believe a new facility will help the county’s economy as a whole turn the corner on what has been a recession that refuses to ease up.

“It’s a visionary — and necessary — decision to help us get back the jobs we lost when Haldex closed,” said Jim Gilpin, co-chairman of the Yes! Allen County Healthcare committee that drummed up voter support across the county.
About 75 supporters gathered in the basement of the courthouse to witness the tally of the votes in the hopes of a celebration.

“It’s exciting to see the community support the hospital,” said Susan Hawk, a social worker for Allen County Hospital’s home health and hospice program.

Lisa Griffith, director of the hospital’s emergency and respiratory services, said the victory means “we can add better technology, more services and be able to treat our own patients in our community. We’ll be able to get them to come back to their hospital.”

Lucinda Witt, a nurse with home health and hospice, said a new hospital will be a strong tool to help recruit new doctors.

Dr. Glen Singer echoed her sentiments. “It’ll be so much easier to sell the community to prospective candidates,” he said. “It also means we’ll be able to compete with other communities now. We can bring home a lot of the cases we’ve been exporting to other hospitals.”

Craig Neuenswander said simply, “It means hope.”

Joyce Heismeyer, chief executive officer, had a big sigh of relief and gratitude for those on the Hospital Facilities Commission who researched the issue by visiting other hospitals and their managements.

Heismeyer said the wide margin of success “shows the community shares its commitment to the future of healthcare in Allen County.”

The vote comes on the heels of the hospital’s re-accreditation by the Joint Commission. Last week’s “great report” puts ACH in a league of its own among area hospitals, Heismeyer said. Neither Garnett nor Chanute’s hospitals have the designation that signifies superior attention to healthcare protocols.

For Pat Rowe, director of plant operations at the hospital, having a new hospital wipes away a chunk of his concerns.

The 60-year-old building “is ready for a lot of upgrades,” he said. “A lot of stuff is at the end of its life cycle.”

Rowe still has another two years to keep the hospital going until the new hospital is completed.

The first item of business is for county commissioners is to name hospital trustees who will oversee the hospital’s construction, management and its finances. The seven trustees should be decided by Friday, said Gary McIntosh, chairman of the county commission.