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Initial plans call for the new hospital to open sometime in the year
2010 on a site near the west side of Lincoln. The new facility
will be designed primarily to serve the dramatic growth in
outpatient services while also providing inpatient care. The new
hospital will be able to accommodate new technology and provide
added space for such vital services as emergency care, surgery and
diagnostic testing services. Patient privacy, comfort, convenience
and safety will be priorities as design plans unfold.
"Our current building allows our staff to provide great patient
care, but we realize that it was built 53 years ago to care for an
average of more than 140 inpatients daily," said Dolan Dalpoas, the
hospital's president and chief executive officer. "Since the 1950s,
advances in medicine and medical technology have dramatically
decreased the length of stay for many patients. Today, we care for
an average of 13 inpatients each night.
"Meanwhile, new technology is enabling many new diagnostic,
surgical and treatment procedures to be done safely and effectively
at ALMH," Dalpoas added. "Not surprisingly, this is reflected in the
dramatic growth of outpatient visits to our hospital. Since 1997,
the number of outpatient visits at our hospital has grown by nearly
25 percent, from 41,251 in 1997 to nearly 51,500 in 2006. A new
hospital designed as an outpatient-based facility will be better
able to meet the needs of the patients who will come to us for this
level of care as the aging, baby boomer population continues to
grow."
"The medical staff is excited about this development," said Dr.
John Wahab, president of the ALMH medical staff. "We fully support a
new hospital and believe our patients will greatly benefit from the
enhanced services available at a new facility."
The decision to build a replacement hospital evolved out of ALMH
2010 -- a 36-month research project to identify the best
opportunities for ensuring community access to excellent care in
Logan and eastern Mason counties.
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 Four options were explored: maintaining the existing hospital
with no renovation; undergo a minimal renovation of the current
hospital; pursue a major first-floor expansion and total renovation
of the current hospital; or construct a replacement hospital. ALMH
engaged nearly 1,000 community members in surveys, focus group
discussions and individual interviews to gather input and direction
for the ALMH 2010 options.
This fall, the hospital's board of directors approved planning
for the project.
"Our mission is to help maintain, restore and improve the health
of the people and communities we serve," said Patti Becker, board
chair. "Our hospital facility is now more than 50 years old. For
obvious reasons, it is not designed to meet the changing needs of
today's patients … many of whom need outpatient care that is easily
accessible and convenient."
"A new hospital designed to meet these needs and continue to
provide inpatient services will enable our hospital to better
fulfill our mission and position it to enjoy 53 more years of
success. I am proud that the hospital board has chosen to move
forward with such an exciting project to preserve the legacy of ALMH."
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital opened on April 2, 1954. Its
predecessor, Deaconess Hospital, was opened on Jan. 19, 1902.
ALMH is a community-based hospital that serves the people and
communities of Logan and eastern Mason counties. Clinical services
include 24-hour emergency medicine, general acute inpatient care,
intensive care, pain management, orthopedics, surgery and the Family
Maternity Suites. ALMH also offers a full range of outpatient
rehabilitation therapy and diagnostic testing.
For project updates, visit
www.almh.org.
[ALMH
news release]
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