Bids have been opened for the Salem Township Hospital renovation and expansion project.
Hospital Chief Executive Officer Jim Timpe is happy with the results.
“We were budgeted for $17 million for construction, and right now it looks like we’re going to be just over $15 million for the budget,” Timpe said. “That gives us a little breathing room if there’s any changes, but hopefully we’re going to come in right on that and save the hospital money.”
Shores Builders of Centralia will be the general contract and will be working with a number of area subs. Shores has completed most of the hospital’s recent improvement projects.
Timpe expects work to be underway by around the end of August.
“Phase one will include the start of that outside building. The first part of that will be that they have to put some things under the parking lot, so part of that where physicians park in the back is going to come out because they have to put sewer lines in for the new building.”
Timpe says construction is expected to take about 18 months to complete.
The project includes expanding the operating room from two to four bays and the emergency room from four to six bays. The addition to the rear of the hospital will include the sterile processing area, keeping it right next to surgery.
Timpe also announced the hospital provided $984,000 in charity care for the first three months of the fiscal year in April, May and June. He notes that is tracking about the same as last year when the hospital provided around $4 million in charity care. Timpe says those who can’t afford to pay can apply for help through the charity care program. He expects a greater need as some Medicaid programs are scaled back.
