Citizen: Pinckneyville Hospital Could Renovate Under 2000 Codes
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Resident John Bolinski presented the board of Pinckneyville Community Hospital (PCH) with information from the Illinois Department of Public Health that says the 2000 life safety codes are still in effect.
The 2012 codes have not yet been adopted. That means any work done prior to the adoption of the 2012 codes, would have to meet the 2000 codes.
Bolinksi corresponded with Herny Kowalenko, acting Division Chief for Life Safety Construction for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Kowalenko verified that PCH has a valid hospital license, which means that it is currently in compliance with all codes and regulations.
Renovations are taken on a case by case basis and would have to meet the current life safety code for existing buildings, which is different from the codes for new construction.
"This information is contrary to what I've been led to believe," Bolinski told the board. He added that renovations could be made for considerably less than the projected $30 million.
The board thanked Bolinksi for the information and said they would take it under advisement.
The health life safety survey conducted in 2003 estimated repairs and upgrades would cost $13 to $18 million. Hospital Administrator Tom Hudgins reported in February that the architecture firm used by the hospital, Gresham Smith, does not recommend renovating the current facility.
Construction costs have increased 39.2 percent from 2003 to 2012 and hazardous materials abatement has gone up more than 40 percent. The new cost estimate for renovation is $25 to $30 million.
The hospital is currently paying $2,000 to have approximately 140 square feet of asbestos flooring removed to allow a drain to be repaired. Costs increase if the size of the project exceeds 160 square feet.
In other business, the board:
reviewed the financial information for January 2012. The operating income for the month was $350,652 and the net income was $385,879. The year-to-date operating and net income are $206,047 and $476,809, respectively.
discussed strategic planning and the performance improvement project. A managers meeting was held recently where quality and customer service was chosen as the focus by managers. Human Resources Director Christie Gajewski and CFO Kara Carson said another meeting is planned for this week. The board will receive a monthly report from the managers on their progress. Carson also reported that she is redesigning the financial reports the board reviews with more of an eye toward strategic planning.
agreed to purchase an ultrasound exam table and ergonomic technician chair for $8,713 plus shipping and handling costs.