USDA invests to improve rural health care

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Nov. 15 announced it is investing $501 million in 60 projects to help improve health care infrastructure and services in rural communities nationwide.

“Creating strong and healthy communities is foundational to increasing prosperity in rural America,” Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett said in announcing the projects. “Under the leadership of Secretary Sonny Perdue, USDA is committed to partnering with rural leaders to improve quality of life and economic development through modern and accessible health care.”

Hazlett made the announcement as part of USDA’s commemoration of National Rural Health Day, which is held annually on the third Thursday of November to focus on the specific health care issues facing rural communities. The department is investing in 60 projects through the Community Facilities direct loan program. These investments will expand access to health care for approximately 2 million people in 34 states.

USDA is investing in health care projects in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Recipients from the region include the following:

Colorado

Welcome Home Montrose received a $528,000 loan to purchase a site to serve veterans. This nonprofit organization is a full-service welcome center for veterans and military families to receive counseling and participate in support groups, training and other supportive services.

Iowa

A $400,000 loan to Glen Haven Home, Inc., will be used to provide additional financing to lease and renovate six cottages for skilled nursing care services, memory care and short-term rehabilitation. The new facility will be able to serve up to 69 residents in family-style living in each cottage. Additional funding includes a $4.6 million Community Facilities direct loan and a $641,000 applicant contribution.

A $12,607,000 loan will be used construct a free-standing cancer center on the campus of St. Anthony Regional Hospital. The center will combine all of the cancer services into one area. The facility will provide improved radiation and medical oncology services and house the upgraded linear accelerator. Currently, the cancer services are spread throughout the hospital and there is not space for an upgraded linear accelerator. Additional funding includes a $3.6 million Rural Development Community Facilities loan guarantee and a $1,222,000 applicant contribution.

A $6,433,000 loan will be used to renovate the Hancock County Health System hospital. Renovations will reconfigure and expand the surgical unit, emergency room and space for behavioral health services. This project will provide for better workflow and efficiencies to optimize care delivery for the area’s 11,341 residents.

An $8 million loan will be used to build an addition and remodel parts of the existing Lakes Regional Healthcare facility. A new entrance canopy and updated mechanical and electrical systems will be part of the project. The remodel and changes will allow the hospital to meet current safety codes and will increasing the efficiency of staff and equipment. Additional funding includes $1.4 million from a commercial lender. This investment will benefit the community’s 4,840 residents.

A $16.5 million loan will be used to construct an addition to and renovate the Monroe County Hospital. The project will increase capacity and provide more space for large equipment. Additional funding includes a $1,290,000 applicant contribution, a $1 million USDA Rural Economic Development Loan, and $2 million in tax-exempt bonds.

Kansas

A $9,525,000 loan will be used to acquire Community Memorial Healthcare’s critical access hospital in Marysville, Kansas. The CMH Foundation will lease the facility back to Community Memorial Healthcare to operate and maintain the campus. The CMH Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was formed in 2009 to support health care in Marshall County. This project will help ensure that the hospital can continue to serve the area’s 10,000 residents. Additional funding includes a $6,570,277 Community Facilities loan guarantee.

A $760,000 loan will be used to purchase and install a new heating and air conditioning system for Wichita County Health Center hospital in Leoti, Kansas. The existing HVAC system has exceeded its life expectancy and is too expensive to maintain. This project will benefit the area’s 2,234 residents.

A $14,619,000 loan to Rural Health Resources of Jackson County Inc., will be used to expand and renovate the critical access hospital in Holton, Kansas. A two-story rural health clinic will be built adjacent to the current hospital. The clinic will occupy the first level of the facility. The second level will house the administrative offices. Updates to the hospital facility include expansion and renovations to the emergency department, inpatient rooms, specialty clinic, public restrooms, corridors and roof. Additional funding includes a $2 million Community Facilities loan guaranteed and a $1 million applicant contribution. The population to be served by this facility is 16,328.

A $2,250,000 loan will provide improvements to the critical access hospital within the Sheridan County Health Complex, Hoxie. Patient rooms and restrooms will be remodeled to meet accessibility standards, and plumbing and electrical systems will be replaced. The complex serves 2,556 people.

Missouri

Grundy County Nursing Home received a $1.2 million loan to install a heating and cooling system and energy-efficient windows. This new system will significantly reduce utility costs and will allow residents to control heating and cooling on an individual basis. The Grundy County Nursing Home provides nursing and assisted-living care to Grundy County’s 10,261 residents.

Nebraska

Haven House Family Services Center of Wayne is receiving a $142,400 loan and a $32,100 grant to purchase and renovate a vacant facility that will allow Haven House to expand services and assist more survivors of domestic and sexual abuse. The new facility, which previously housed a private medical practice, will provide more rooms and privacy for staff and clients—better equipping Haven House to serve the local population of nearly 25,000.

Oklahoma

A $23,279,000 loan will be used by GPRMC Holdings, Inc. to purchase the Great Plains Regional Medical Center in Elk City, currently owned by the Farmers Union Hospital Association. The hospital’s primary service area covers eight zip codes in Beckham, Roger Mills and Washington counties in rural, western Oklahoma. The population served is 45,227. The medical center is a 19-acre campus with three staff buildings and a 54-bed, short-term, acute care hospital constructed in 2009. The Rural Development financing will help ensure the current and future availability of health care in western Oklahoma. Additional funding includes a $9.8 million Rural Development loan guarantee and a $2,650,000 applicant contribution.

Texas

Knox County Hospital District is receiving a $202,400 loan to finance renovations, improvements, and purchase equipment for the Munday Nursing Center. The project will include renovating the floors, ceiling tiles and lighting in the dining rooms and hallways, and purchasing washing machines, driers and dietary warming tables. Knox County Hospital District is located in Knox City, which has a population of 1,130 residents.

Wyoming

Westward Heights, the only nursing home facility in Lander to serve the 7,487 residents of the community, is receiving a $4.2 million loan to rehabilitate the structure. To remain economically viable, the project needs to modernize the 35,000 square feet facility. Upgrades will include modifications to meet ADA requirements, converting two semi-private rooms with shared bathrooms to private rooms, and adding 10 beds. The project will help keep elderly people close to their families and communities. Additional funding includes a $1,428,000 Community Facilities loan guarantee.