Jackson County hospital trustees reach consensus

MAQUOKETA, Iowa — Jackson County Regional Health Center trustees have reached a consensus to examine the possibility of constructing a new hospital.

Whether the facility would be located at the site of the present hospital or an off-site location remains open for discussion.

Consultants have estimated that a new hospital could cost up to $37 million. During a meeting Tuesday night, some trustees wondered whether they could justify the cost if the future of health care changes in unforeseen ways.

“Can we really design a facility that will be useful that long?” John Cressey asked.

A previous study conducted by InVision Architects, of Waterloo, evaluated the existing facility — sections of which date to 1949, 1966 and 1979 — and determined that most of the buildings are in fair or poor condition.

Representatives from BWBR Architects of St. Paul, Minn., and Madison, Wis., construction management firm J.H. Findorff & Son in February recommended that the board construct a new facility rather than remodel. (full article…)

BY BENNET GOLDSTEIN Dubuque Telegraph Herald, March 22, 2017

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