CCMSD looks to the future with facility assessment

Crook County Medical Services District (CCMSD) has begun a condition assessment of its hospital and long-term care facility in Sundance. The aim of the study is to figure out what upgrades or replacements would be possible and useful, and whether they would be financially feasible.

According to CEO Micki Lyons, three main options are on the table. The first would be to take the existing facility and “make better use of our space.”

In this scenario, changes could include such things as creating more private rooms for patients and ensuring isolation rooms are available for patients with infectious diseases.

The second alternative, said Lyons, to move the long-term care unit out of the building and revamp the area as an acute care ward. The third possibility would be to build a new facility entirely.

The contractor performing the study has already toured the facility and met with the individual departments to discuss their needs and potential ways to improve how they are able to function.

“As of now, we will meet weekly,” said Lyons of the next step, which involves looking more deeply at the potential avenues.

Once all possibilities have been discussed, they will be brought before the board of trustees and decisions can be made on which directions would be feasible and how to involve the community.

At this time, said board chairman Mark Erickson, no timeline has been set. This is, “long-term planning for the future of the hospital district,” he stated.

Lyons agreed, explaining that the study is intended to look into, “What do you do with the existing space, and is it financially feasible.” For example, she said, CCMSD would like to build on its swing bed program, and this study will investigate whether and how that could be done.