MADRAS, OR -- St. Charles Health System is moving ahead with plans to upgrade much of the Madras hospital, beginning this summer. Christa Papke with St. Charles Madras tells KBND the final design work is nearly done. "This is a $16 million addition that will include a new main entrance; a new combined operating room and emergency department, a new imaging department and laboratory. Our current laboratory is actually located in mobile units outside of the actual hospital building." She says about 10,000 square feet of existing infrastructure will also undergo upgrades.
Papke says the project fulfills a promise made to the Madras community in 2013. "There had been ongoing historical discussions about upgrading this facility, because it was built in 1967 and doesn’t truly meet all of the current standards of care. This project will be partially financed by bonds, and it fills the St. Charles commitment to the Madras community to upgrade the hospital as part of the asset transfer agreement between St. Charles Health System and Mountain View Hospital District."
There should only be minimal impact on patients during the work. "The nice part about doing this addition is that we won’t be disrupting the services we’re currently providing. They may see some construction areas and that sort of thing, but our goal is to continue to provide the high level of healthcare that we’re currently providing to our community," Papke says.
Construction is slated to begin in July.
