New hospital and clinic now open at CMC

You may have noticed. There's a new hospital in downtown Leavenworth. After years of planning, a new wing of the hospital has been completed and is now open for business. It is truly a remarkable achievement for Cascade Medical Center (CMC), considering the hospital district was ready to close down about 12 years ago.

CMC Chief Nursing Officer, Camille Stemm, remembers well those dark days.

"It was a sad time. I was told to shut down the acute care," she said. "Now, to be here and opening up something new. It's kind of surreal in some way but it's a real testament to not only the board and administration but really to the community for their support."

Current CMC Board Member Arleen Blackburn was managing the clinic back then.

"We had to give up OB and surgery because we reached the point where insurance costs were more than revenue. Those things really did not help. Those doctors could not make it without surgery and OB," Blackburn said. "We really went downhill from there. It's really been a historical progression common to all rural hospitals."

One of the keys to the resurgence was a commitment to primary care. The new hospital building reflects that commitment. The entire upper floor of the new wing is devoted to primary care, with now eight doctors, a nurse practitioner, and a physicians assistant.

Another piece for the hospital has been the involvement of the Cascade Medical Center Foundation, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars toward medical equipment the hospital could not afford otherwise, like the CAT scan and the hydro therapy pool.

"We wouldn't have the services we have without the foundation," Blackburn said. "I can't say enough about the exposure to the community. The foundation does so many activities. Just the awareness creates growth in our patient care. We have new patients because of the foundation."

The new clinic has been up and running since Nov. 1. On Nov. 2, the acute care, ER and admitting were moved. Stemm said the staff spent a lot of time planning to make sure the transition would go smoothly.

"Especially with the ER. We didn't want to have a time where we were down," Stemm said. "We did many things to make sure we had our crash cart available. It was quite seamless."

The new acute care is open with seven rooms. There are three ER beds, with one acute bed in use for ER now as well. The trauma room is ready and the doctors are now mostly moved into the new clinic.

"I did not know how nice this new facility was until I left the old one and really settled in here," said Dr. Maury Haferman. "The new building is wonderful. There's been some moving pains, but nothing severe. We are enjoying it here. We think it's a great addition to the community."

There is a lot more room for the providers now, Haferman said, and it has improved access for getting in and out of the rooms, which is a big plus.

The electronic medical record has been gradually introduced to the clinic and that process in continuing. But no big technologic improvements.

"The building as a whole is a lot more sound and safer. The roof isn't going to leak in the winter like the old one did," Haferman said. "Those are things, in the end, that contribute to good care."

Still to come are the new lobby, remodel of the old building, which will house the lab, x-ray, CAT scan, procedural and the ER reception area. That will all be part of phase two, which is expected to be complete in July or August. Construction crews will work through winter to get the work done.

Work will be happening on the same floor where services are being provided. Stemm says there will be no interruption in services. Phase three involves renovating the old clinic building.

In the meantime, physical therapy moves from the basement of the old building into the old clinic space. The new physical therapy space, including the hydrotherapy pool, is being constructed as part of phase two.

Until the new lobby is constructed, patients must enter the hospital through the ER entrance on the west side of the building. Once the lobby is completed, the new entrance will be on Commercial Street.

A steady contributor for the past 40 years, and through the transition has been the volunteer Hilfreiche Hausfrauen Ladies. That part of CMC has not changed.

For Blackburn, the opening of the new hospital has been an emotional experience. The idea for a new hospital first came up during a board workshop in 2002. The real work on it began in 2003. The community passed an $8 million bond to build it. And now phase one is complete.

"I get very emotional because it's so much nicer than it was on paper," she said. "What makes me feel so good and so comfortable about it, from day one, we have included the community. We listened. It's just heartwarming to see."

Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.