The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

DAYTON—For the past few months, Columbia County Health System (CCHS) CEO Shane McGuire has been talking to the Hospital District Board of Commissioners about five small works roster1 projects that could improve the hospital’s ability to treat COVID-19 patients and help the Health System with its response to a potential surge of COVID-19 in the community.

Cost for the five projects is estimated at 1.1 million and are listed below in order of priority:

1. Upgrade the currently undersized hospital generator.

2. Upgrade the hospital’s critical systems by expanding red emergency power outlets to Acute Care rooms.

3. Add medical air systems to improve breathing treatments for patients on ventilators and those in cardiopulmonary distress.

4. Upgrade the medical gas system, or oxygen plant, to aid patients in respiratory distress.

5. Replace the outdated suction compressor, which is connected to the 1964 era infrastructure, to better treat patients in respiratory distress.

In September, McGuire told the board the five projects seemed to “predominantly” meet the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) guidelines for using CARES Act funds.

In October, the board permitted the Finance committee to manage and approve the projects, to be paid for out of CARES Act funds, not to exceed 1.5 million.

Hospital officials then backed off the projects because HHS’s new guidance implied the funds could not be used for capital projects.

They turned to representatives in the offices of Washington State legislator Senator Maria Cantwell, and U.S. Senator Patty Murray, and met in person with Fifth Congressional District Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers to discuss their concerns.

McGuire said HHS has since clarified its guidance, agreeing to allow the use of CARES Act funds for those capital projects, which meet COVID-19 criteria.

“Your legislators are working very hard for you, and they have been very accessible all hours of the day and night,” McGuire told the board of commissioners at their meeting on Dec.1.

John McLean, a Principal Architect of Blue Room Architecture, attended last week’s board of commissioners’ meeting. McLean is the design consultant on the five projects, the dental clinic project and the assisted living facility project.

McLean said the budgets and expenditures for the five projects are “looking good,” and contractors are looking forward to having inside work during the winter months.

The board of commissioners approved the first of the five projects, allowing the purchase of a new generator.

The generator will cost around $100,000. Construction costs and operation costs for the entire generator project is capped at $350,000.

Dental clinic project

The board of commissioners accepted the apparent low bid from Nelson Construction, Walla Walla, to construct the Medicaid Dental Clinic at the Columbia Family Clinic. The bid was for $415,951.

According to CCHS Finance Manager Matt Minor, the clinic is projected to bring in a modest income, and he said the Health District is in a good financial position to move forward with the project.

Assisted Living Facility project

John McLean said design documents are about halfway complete for the Assisted Living Facility project. The developer, Ron Asmus, REA, has provided estimated costs for constructing three units to be located adjacent to the hospital on the north. Asmus is negotiating with the City of Dayton over development costs for water lines, sewer lines, power lifts, and other services, McLean said.

Administrator’s report

According to Shane McGuire, hospital District finances are healthier now than during the first half of the year. Revenue was $342,000 above budget at the end of October. This was due primarily to a large settlement from Molina Healthcare and increased revenues from hospital services.

Two additional nurse practitioners, and a locum tenens2 Physician’s Assistant-Certified (PA-C), are in the process of being hired for the clinics. The search is ongoing for another primary care physician, McGuire said.

McGuire said moving COVID-19 non-symptomatic testing offsite is being considered since the increase in tests at the hospital campus is placing a burden on health system personnel.

Six-hundred and forty-seven tests have been performed on campus since Nov. 1. McGuire will let the board know more at their Dec. 17 meeting.

1 Editor’s notes: Small works rosters (SWR) are lists of qualified contractors who can bid for an eligible project below $350,000. Rosters are less restrictive and time-consuming than full formal competitive bids. RCW 39.04.155(2) establishes the requirements for roster contracts.

2 The term locum tenens refers to a physician, nurse practitioner or PA who works temporary assignments, often involving travel.