:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/shawmedia/AFTNQICXRFP7N4NDTJUQDXOQAU.jpg)
MORRISON – The first phase an $18 million expansion at Morrison Community Hospital – creation of a new staff parking lot – is underway.
The lot, being built west of the hospital at 303 N. Jackson St., also will provide more room for patient and visitor parking. After it is done, construction of the new addition will begin in earnest.
Most of the work is expected to be done next year and finish in mid-2020, Marketing Director Mick Welding has said.
The expansion will include five new emergency bays – enclosed, individual rooms – and a new trauma bay, bringing the total number of rooms to eight, plus a canopy.
A new operating room will be added, bringing the total to three.
“We’re looking to possibly expand into orthopedic surgery,” Welding said.
The ground floor of the hospital will house administrative offices.
The first floor will see the lab department moving from the hospital’s middle to its front, allowing patients easier access. The therapy department will move from the ground floor to the front of the first floor, so that all outpatient care services will be on the same floor.
On the second floor, a new southeast addition will add eight private medical surgical rooms, bringing the total to 16, and a new glass facade will be added to the south side of the hospital, the news release said earlier this year.
The maintenance area will be on the top floor.
As a rural hospital, MCH has critical access status, a designation that limits it to 25 beds in all, Welding said.
The work is being paid for with a 40-year USDA loan, which is being bundled with other outstanding loans.
The original building was built in 1934, was added on to 1954 and last updated in 1974.
November gala to benefit expansion
Tickets are on sale now for an evening of food, cocktails, auctions and music to benefit Morrison Community Hospital's expansion.
"Tenth Anniversary on the 10th Gala" will be Nov. 10 at Vista Grande, 2141 16th St. NW in Clinton, Iowa.
A cocktail hour and silent auction will start at 5 and dinner at 6:30 p.m. A live auction will follow the meal, and the River City String Quartet will perform through the evening. There also will be a basket auction
Auction items include tickets to Chicago Cubs, Bulls and Blackhawks games, Walt Disney World park hopper passes, and home and condo rentals in Florida, Galena, and the Ozarks. Items can be viewed at mchf.cbo.io starting Oct. 22.
Tickets cost $45 each, $320 for a table of eight or $400 for a table of 10, and are available online or at the hospital, 303 N. Jackson St. Call the Morrison Community Hospital Foundation, 815-772-4003, for more information.