Print this story |
E-mail story |
This story has 22 comments Add your own |
iPod friendly | Bookmark this
What is this?
photo by Submitted
A partnership of area health agencies have announced plans to build a new facility along State Route 141, near the intersection with U.S. 52
New medical facility step toward hospital
St. Mary’s, partners announce site on SR 141
Originally published 12:22 p.m., September 18, 2008
Updated 11:21 a.m., September 18, 2008
IRONTON — As a crowd of about 150 peered across a 20-acre piece of land off State Route 141 near U.S. 52 during a ceremony Wednesday, they saw homes, Cooke’s Farm Center and a wooded area.
Those who were showing it off saw something else.
Lawrence County Health Care Futures, LLC, a consortium of local development entities and health care specialists, officially announced plans to build a medical complex that could eventually create about 200 jobs.
But what that means exactly isn’t clear. The leaders of the project had optimism that was measured, as evidenced by repeated reminders that there is no guarantee for a full-service hospital, but that such a facility is the goal of all parties involved.
“We’re proceeding carefully,” said Doug Korstanje, director of marketing and community relations for St. Mary’s Medical Center.
St. Mary’s joins the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization, the Lawrence Economic Development Corp., ClearPoint Companies, and the Lawrence County Port Authority as the project’s partners. Other entities involved in the project are Ironton City Council, the Lawrence County Commission and the Ironton Port Authority.
Representatives of the LLC announced a two-phased plan, the first of which is to construct a family medical center with extended urgent care hours with the possibility of other services, including an imaging center, surgery center and other specialty clinical space. Construction on Phase 1 will begin at an unspecified date in 2009.
The phase, which could result in nearly 100 jobs, will begin with land acquisition, final design and site development.
Dan Smith, co-owner of ClearPoint Companies along with Dan Sheehan, said funding has already been secured for the land acquisition. The initial investment is $2 million with another $18 million possible as other parts of Phase 1 fall into place.
Smith said physicians will play a key role in the direction of the health care at the location. He said at large part of the project’s financing will come from physicians and private investors. He said other financing will be possible despite the turbulent market.
“Physicians are going to have to see it’s a real project and not a lot of hype. Physicians want to have a part in the direction and leadership and they will have that. And they do not have to be an investor to practice here,” Smith said. “People love health care. If we were building a shopping mall we could not get financing. But we can with health care … under the right conditions.”
Phase 2 of the project is a pursuit of a $60 million full-service hospital that would include patient towers, an emergency room and other facilities. The group said Phase 1 needs to be successful for Phase 2 to become a reality.
D.R. Gossett, executive director of the local CAO, said it is realistic to believe the county will again have a full service hospital.
“If everything we expect to happen happens, we will get somewhere into Phase 2 that we’ll be happy with,” he said. “In some of the early models, we were looking at a 55-bed hospital. I think that’s achievable.”
The announcement was a much-anticipated one since the demise of River Valley Health Systems. That hospital closed its doors in 2001 and leaders have made efforts since then to return a hospital to the county.
Gossett said that day is now closer.
“We knew government wasn’t going to have a magic wand. We put a team together and now that vision and model has become a reality,” he said. “This facility will be a vision of what a doctor wants when he or she is providing care. It’s no longer a model. It’s growing legs and it’s walking.”
Of the initial $2 million investment, Lawrence County Commission President Doug Malone said it will contribute about $400,000.
“I would say we’re committed to about 1/5th of it,” Malone said. “I don’t think there’s a lot of risk because of (the value of) the property.”
Ironton City Council President Bob Cleary said the city’s contributions will come on the back end with tax contributions. Phase 1 is expected to create about 70 jobs and those employees will pay the 1 percent city tax, but Cleary said the city will donate 50 percent of those revenues back in order to help spur future growth.
Cleary said there are numerous opportunities for the city because of the project.
“Combined with the new schools, it will increase development opportunities in Ironton,” Cleary said. “This will be a real shot in the arm for Ironton. There will be tremendous spinoffs of other businesses.”
Cleary said he believes the addition of the medical complex will make landing a hotel in Ironton easier.
“We’re hoping to get ahead of the game when they start Phase 1,” Cleary said. “That will be an indication we are on our way.”
Dr. Bill Dingus, executive director of LEDC and the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, agreed that many other businesses could follow the medical complex.
“Looking at the best industries of the future, they are knowledge industries,” said Dingus, who said he sees a natural partnership with the medical complex and Ohio University Southern. “And there are none better than health care. The spinoffs are unimaginable.”
Gossett said a hospital would open up many doors.
“Having a hospital, versus not having a hospital, makes you a more viable community. For industries that want to come here with no hospital, that means they have insurance issues,” Gossett said. “It seems like the wind is blowing in our direction right now.”
Ironton City Council and the Lawrence County Commission began the event with a joint session. Both bodies passed resolutions offering their financial assistance and future cooperation. During the meeting Ralph Kline, the CAO’s community development director, explained aspects of the project to those in attendance.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SHARE THIS STORY?
Comments
Posted by jw2009 (anonymous) on September 18, 2008 at 1:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like a flop to me. St. Mary's is really tugging at the chain of people in this county and the leaders of this county. Could it be strategic close to the election announcement? A family care center, do we not have several of those already in town. Did we not go through this same thing with OLBH a couple of years ago? St. Mary's will never build a hospital in this town simply because the town will not sustain a hospital. They say they "possibly" will and everyone cheers, reality is the nearest St. Mary's hospital will be in Huntington and that will be the only one available, so leaders of this region you might think of using your resources and time on something that is actually needed in this area.. There are two hospitals directly within reach of Ironton who have handled the burden of not having a hospital for the past five years quite well. Health care will deteriorate if this hospital is built in this town because all the sudden SEOEMS will decide that this is the best place for a person to be taken rather than to the hospital with the capability of caring for the patient. Instead of scene flights for the medevac choppers, they will first have to be taken to the hospital in ironton for "stabilization" prior to being put in the air. One must ponder, is the care rendered in the helicopter not better than any of these hole in the wall institutions. The only definitive care for a trauma patient or cardiac patient is appropriate care. Or is St. Marys going to use this as a straight shot to Mary's for everyone needing heart care?
Posted by jw2009 (anonymous) on September 18, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
On thing too, are we not squashing a long-time Ironton business in Cooke's?
Posted by OhioanAtHeart (anonymous) on September 18, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Exactly..
Posted by TeacherinOhio (anonymous) on September 18, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Negativity! That is what some people see all the time. I would much rather go to a hospital in Ironton than across the river. We send too much money over to KY & WV! We need to spend money here in Ohio! I live near the area where it is going to be built. I can't wait to see the first shovel of dirt moved for new construction! I hope we have a fitness center with a pool built down the road too. I hope this happens. Ohio University has talked about building something like that for quite awhile.
Posted by swimmingupstream (anonymous) on September 18, 2008 at 5:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dear Ohio:
They are not, repeat NOT, building a hospital. They are building a doctor's office. And if, and only IF, that is successful, will they put in Xrays and a lab. And if, and only IF, that is successful will they build more. And MAYBE, just MAYBE, someday, way out in the future somewhere, will they building anything resembling a hospital. And, if this hospital isn't the size of the Mayo Clinic and if it doesn't offer open heart surgery and organ transplants, the people of Ironton will reject it, Just as they did the River Valley (Lawrence County General) hospital. Before it closed it was lucky to have 20 patients - nearly everyone went to Ashland or Huntington "because I wouldn't take a sick dog to that hospital." And I have seen nothing occur in this community in the last 7 years that would lead me to believe that attitude has changed.
So now we are going forward, and the county government, which isn't sure how they are going to meet the payroll for the rest of the year, suddenly finds itself with an extra $400,000 to help St. Mary's buy the property it wants. HOW DO THEY DO IT?????
And after it's built, Ironton will contribute it's share by allowing the hospital to keep half of the Ironton income tax money it collects from its employees! What a deal!!!
Posted by jw2009 (anonymous) on September 18, 2008 at 6:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not negativity....Just stating simple reality. The $400000 the county is coughing up for a doctors office seems a bit much as well. Very interesting around election time huh.......
Posted by donisoo2 (anonymous) on September 18, 2008 at 7 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Deja vu! There have been at least two imaging centers in Ironton in the past few years, both of which went under. One of the centers did Xray, MRI,CAT scan,Ultrasounds, Mammograms,Nuclear Medicine,Venous and Arterial Studies and started off doing bloodwork. The main reason it failed was because the physicians in Ironton refused to patronize the facility. They sent their patients across the river. Even after some of the physicians invested in this imaging center, they still did not send their patients there. Wonder if St Mary's did any research into this project.
Posted by jw2009 (anonymous) on September 18, 2008 at 7:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Seems like Marys is fishing for patients. They don't seem to like that a lot of their heart patients are in Ashland Ky at KDMC and OLBH. Oh yeah, and several of their MDs have came over too.
Posted by justconcerned (anonymous) on September 18, 2008 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey, I've lived in Ironton for 6 years now---what Imaging Centers where there in the past couple years?? They probably failed because they did not promote it or advertise it. I think the "family care center" will be a good thing. Yes, ANY business in order to expand needs to succeed first. Once they get patients and see what the needs of the community are then I am certain they will expand. The one thing I have noticed about Ironton is that the long time residents do not like change. GROW UP!! Change needs to happen in order for Ironton to ever be what it was before or even half of what it is was before!!!
Posted by donisoo2 (anonymous) on September 18, 2008 at 8:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Our Lady of Bellefonte Diagnostic Imaging Center, later changing the name to Park Imaging Center (Next to Taco Bell) Opened 2000, closed 2007.
And there was intensive promoting and advertising of this facility.
Diagnostic Imaging Center in Coal Grove. Open approximately 2006.
Posted by InTheCounty (anonymous) on September 18, 2008 at 10:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What about Cooke's? Is the city/county going to help them relocate or just let them close?
Posted by jw2009 (anonymous) on September 18, 2008 at 11:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
probably just let them close that seems to be the trend in Ironton. You have a good business and you let it close to put in a FCC. Good planning guys, good planning
Posted by RNinOhio (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why does everyone have to be so negative? You gripe because of the jobs in the town and the fact that there is no hospital. Now there are going to be jobs created and another choice for health care. But still yet, you complain! I do not get it. Why can't people just be happy that we could possibly get a hospital back and more job creation? I feel that some people are just not happy unless they are putting others down. It makes them feel better about themselves. Even if it is a slow process and it has to go in phases at least there is some hope that it is going to happen. For once can Ironton citizens and others just be happy with what we are getting???? I say thanks to all who are at least trying to make Ironton a better place to live!!
Posted by TeacherinOhio (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bravo RNinOhio!
Posted by howardhughes (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Regardless as to whether it will become a full-fledged hospital now or in the future, is irrelevant, what it is important to understand is what it means today and that is JOBS. 100 in the first phase which is a sure bet. Sometimes I wonder about the people who post these negative comments, like they can't see the forest for the trees. It is exactly that type of negativity that is holding this county back. You don't have to look far (Huntington, Ashland) to see what happens when community leaders put their communities first and entrenched government bureaucracies second. Change is what has lead surrounding communities to prosper and lack thereof has lead us to this good ol' boy system that surrounds us today. I hope that one day the people of Lawrence County will realize that it isn't outside forces holding us back, it is our fatalistic attitude towards anything new.
Posted by WhatAJoke (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree, too much negativity always being posted here.
What about Cooke's??? Well, I'm sure they will relocate if they want or just retire, people do that you know. Besides it's not eminent domain, I'm sure they got a pretty penny for that place.
Posted by becs04 (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is amazing how many people do not think beyond city limits of Ironton. There are many many people who live in the outer parts of Lawrence County who would use a medical facility (hopsital, urgent care, etc.) located here in Ironton due to logistics. A 5 - 10 minute drive for someone who lives in Ironton to Ashland does not seem life threatening, but for someone in Pedro area, that additional 10 minutes can be life or death. I extremely happy that St. Mary's has decided to invest in our community. They are a leader in quality health care and I for one can't wait to use any facility they build here and I hope other citizens will too. If you drive to Huntington so see your doctor, wouldn't it be nice, if your doctor started to have 1-2 day a week office hours in an Ironton office. Just think of the money we could save in gas and put back into our own economy! We complain when bad things come to our community but then belittle anyone who tries to do something progressive, it is little wonder why our community seems to go no where.
Posted by pslate (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope the new health facilty will encourage more investment in the community,
Posted by jw2009 (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
So you are going to go to the family care center for your life threatening illness?
Posted by justconcerned (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I have noticed a lot of negativity since moving to Ironton 6 years ago! I AGREE that St Marys investing in our community is a good thing. Let us all get behind them and support them so that they can SUCCEED and EXPAND!
Posted by justconcerned (anonymous) on September 19, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And use COMMON SENSE! Until the Family Care Center succeeds, they will not be able to build the other aspects of the medical center. IF you have a life threatening illness CALL 911 or go to Ashland or Huntington to a HOSPITAL until we can get ST Marys established in Ironton, JW2009!!!!
Posted by irdc (anonymous) on September 25, 2008 at 3:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm wondering if jw2009 was at the public meeting? I am going to go with NO b/c if they were then they would know the plans of St. Mary's to start little and build big they stated they did not want to go in full force and loose money they wanted to start little and prosper first so the community would prosper and as far as cooke's they agreed to sell their property it is not like St Mary's acted as a thieve in the night and stole it from them...they obviously wanted to sell...
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)