CMC-Groundbreaking

Community Medical Center in Falls City will holding its groundbreaking for the expansion and renovation project at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 19.
The CMC Board of Directors gave its stamp of approval in late December on a multi-million dollar upgrade that will include a new Family Medicine Clinic, additional surgery space, imaging enhancements, and renovations designed to improve the hospital’s orthopedic and specialty clinics.
The CMC Board approved a project budget of $8 million, about two-thirds of which will be spent on construction. Omaha-based Altus Architectural Studios has been hired to design the project and a committee comprised of board members, hospital administration, medical staff and other community members will later this month select a construction management firm.
The $21 million facility opened in November 2009 with 160 employees. That number has grown to 200. According to CEO Ryan Larsen, the clinic addition will be designed to accommodate additional practitioners moving into the community. The existing clinic was created to handle three to five primary care physicians. The new Family Medicine Clinic and orthopedics will be housed separately, and a new entrance to the physical therapy room will be constructed, as well.
The surgical expansion is driven by an ever-growing demand for orthopedic procedures. Such procedures, incidentally, are driving a healthy bottom line. At the annual meeting in early 2015, Larsen reported 2014 gross revenues at more than $23 million, against $22 million in expenses. The hospital brought in some $5 million more in ‘14 than it did in 2011, and for three consecutive years it has operated with net annual gains of about $1.5 million each fiscal year.
    The community is invited to the event where they can view the plans for the expansion and renovation project. State Senator Dan Watermeier will be attending along with local dignitaries.