St. Luke’s McCall has submitted design plans to the City of McCall for its hospital facility replacement project. Expanding and modernizing the medical center is needed to continue to serve the health care needs of the community.

The city approved the land use application and plans to improve utilities and roads around the hospital earlier this year. Site preparation work happened over the summer and is wrapping up for the season.

St. Luke’s McCall will present the hospital design plan and seek approval at a public hearing in December, and construction could begin next year.

The plans include building a two-story, 50,000-square-foot addition north of the existing hospital and remodeling 15,000 square feet of existing space. The east half of the current hospital will be demolished to allow for a new front parking lot and drop-off area.

The hospital is now approximately 30,000 square feet and will be approximately 65,000 square feet after the project is complete.

On the first floor of the new addition will be the emergency department with eight bays and a separate ambulance entrance and expanded medical imaging, laboratory and infusion departments.

The second floor will house 13 inpatient rooms, two labor and delivery rooms and one obstetric triage room, inpatient physical therapy and pharmacy. The surgical department will be on the second floor and will have three operating rooms, one procedure room and 10 pre- and post-operating recovery bays.

The new design improves patient flow and efficiencies for staff providing patient care by having appropriate department adjacencies and increased square footage. Patient privacy is also improved with the new design.

“By having patients on the second floor who are staying overnight or are receiving surgical services creates separation  and privacy from those coming to the facility for outpatient services like lab tests and imaging exams,” said Matt Kaiserman, senior director of operations.

Departments in the remodeled section of the hospital will include patient registration and a waiting area, cardiopulmonary, kitchen and cafeteria, conference rooms, supply chain, administration, foundation, clinical engineering and information health technology.

The exterior of the building will be a combination of red brick, metal panels, wood-tone composite panels and a resilient concrete base. The plan incorporates natural noise buffers, landscaping and improved neighborhood pedestrian walkability and safety.

“We are pleased our architects and local stakeholders are developing a design that is functional, modern and matches the aesthetic of our mountain community,” St. Luke’s McCall Administrator Sean McCallister said.

Several years ago, hospital leadership identified a need for additional space to serve the growing needs of the community and to modernize the aging facility and dated infrastructure. Surgical and emergency department services have seen significant growth over the past several years, and the increased demand has spilled over into medical imaging, lab functions and all other support departments.

Nearly 50 percent of the hospital is more than 60 years old and the other half is more than 20 years old, creating challenges to meet current regulatory, technology and connectivity standards.

The estimated cost for detailed planning, architectural design work, site preparation, road improvements, building the new addition, remodel, equipment and furnishings for the new facility is $40 million, which includes the $5 million raised to date by the St. Luke’s McCall Foundation through community support and generosity. The balance of the funding will be provided through St. Luke’s capital investment funds, pending approval.

“Replacing and expanding the hospital is a significant investment in community health,” McCallister said. “We are building for a future in which we continue to provide great care and focus on health, wellness and prevention.”

Community meeting planned

St. Luke’s McCall is hosting a community meeting to share information about the hospital plan, including details about the schematic design and exterior elevations. The meeting will take place Thursday, Nov. 15, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the hospital conference room.