Patient beds drop from 17 to 16 after IDPH inspection of new Pinckneyville Hospital

The new Pinckneyville Community Hospital remains on track for substantial completion on May 12. All of the concrete on site has been poured except for the worth parking lot and the sidewalks on the north side of the building.

There was bad soil found on the west half of the south parking lot. Soil amendment must be done before that half of the parking lot can be poured. The eastern half will be poured as soon as possible.

Site Superintendent Jimmy Hunter said the soil issue was less severe than expected. Samples have been taken and the results from the testing company should be back soon.

The exterior site work should be completed by April.

The interior of the building also is coming along nicely. All of the drywall is up with the exception of one area that is being framed. The walls are finished in all but Section D where the drywall is being sanded this week. The next step is priming.

Hospital Administrator Tom Hudgins said that the IDPH inspection determined there were not enough patient bays in the recovery area outside the operating room due to the addition of a bathroom in that area. As a result, one patient room will have to become a dedicated recovery area, dropping the number of patient beds from 17 to 16.

Board member Bonnie Tolbert was not happy about the change. She objected to moving patients at their most vulnerable down the corridor past employees and members of the public. However, there is nothing to be done about the required change.

"It's a step back in time," Tolbert, a retired nurse, said.

Tolbert also took time to explain that the new piece of equipment the board approved purchasing at their February meeting is a washer/sanitizer for equipment not a washer/sterilizer. The sterilizer is a separate piece of equipment. The sterilizer the hospital already owns will be moved to the new facility.

The weather has been cooperative and construction is going well. The only change order approved at the Feb. 11 meeting was $1,541 for a junction vault for communication conduits. Pending changes total $80,000.

That breaks down to $3,000 to $15,000 for moving assistance, $5,000 to $40,000 for electrical requirements and other issues and $3,000 to $25,000 for signage.

Hudgins said there should only be one additional sign outside and that it should use the same power source as the gate and the main sign, if it must be lighted.

Total cost of the hospital is currently $25,958,045.