FYI: http://qctimes.com/news/local/32e284...9bb2963f4.html

The acquisition by Genesis Health System of Mercer County’s hospital and nursing home includes an $11.7 million plan to renovate the hospital.
The improvements were announced Friday during a news conference in Aledo that marked the culmination of the facilities’ change in ownership.

“It’s a very exciting day for Genesis, and it’s a very exciting day for me,” said Doug Cropper, the Genesis president and CEO.

The event ended a process that has spanned almost four years. Genesis and the Mercer County Board of Supervisors entered into a management agreement in March 2009. Genesis began in August 2011 to manage the nursing home, now known as Genesis Senior Living, Aledo. Myron Higgins will continue as the nursing home administrator, Genesis officials said in a news release.

Renovations also are planned for the nursing home along with what Genesis officials called a significant investment in information technology.

Genesis will pay Mercer County $2.25 million for the nursing home while assuming the liabilities as well as the assets of the hospital, which has been renamed Genesis Medical Center, Aledo. Before the Genesis management arrangement, Mercer County Hospital was running a $700,000 annual deficit and had just lost its administrator. It is now averaging $500,000 annually in the black.

“I’m really excited about the future,” said Ted Rogalski, the administrator of the Genesis Medical Center, Aledo. “We’re able to kick off right away with a huge renovation project that will allow us to increase our service level to the community.”

The multi-year process used in Aledo is similar to the one that was used in acquiring the DeWitt, Iowa, hospital, now called Genesis Medical Center, DeWitt. In addition to its two Davenport hospitals, Genesis owns and operates Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus, Silvis.

Don Johnson, the chairman of the Mercer County Hospital board, said, “I feel the community will be supporting this hospital tremendously. Genesis has shown that they can operate in a small community like DeWitt ... for many years, and I expect that to continue in our community.”

Cropper said health care reform and innovations in medical technology have made it increasingly difficult for government-owned facilities to keep pace in the modern era.

Rogalski said the renovation of the hospital will be a “total tear-down and rebuilding.” Critical outpatient service areas such as the emergency room, laboratory, physical therapy, radiology and surgery will be expanded. Those services account for 95 percent of what the hospital does in Aledo, added Rogalski, who has been at his job for three years. The renovation project is expected to begin in April and take about 18 months to complete. It also will feature an upgrade of the infrastructure, enhanced medical technology and improved patient accessibility.

“Our vision in this rural community is to provide services locally so people don’t have to travel. The next-closest hospital is more than 45 minutes away. If people can get these things done in their community, that’s what we set out to do,” he added.

Rogalski also said there will be an effort to attract more specialists to Aledo and continue to expand the available services
.
“These facilities are tremendous county and community assets, and by completing this purchase, Genesis secures the future of both facilities for decades to come,” Cropper said. Both the hospital and nursing home “will enter a new era,” he added.