Perkins County Health Services and USDA Rural Development, along with other partners instrumental to the project, joined in the ribbon cutting and grand opening today for the newly expanded and renovated Perkins County Health Services (PCHS).
USDA Rural Development awarded $10.1 million to the Perkins County Health Services Agency under the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program. The funds, leveraged with $4 million from two local lenders and more than $1.3 million from the hospital’s own funds, brought the facility to fruition.
“USDA believes that access to quality healthcare is at the center of Nebraska rural communities. Facilities such as Perkins County Health Services upholds healthcare that is needed in Perkins County and the surrounding area,” said Nebraska State Director Maxine Moul, USDA Rural Development.
"Our vision is to ‘Provide an appropriate health care delivery system to meet the needs of the residents of Perkins County and the surrounding areas. Our Mission is to ‘Provide Excellence In Care …for Life,' said CEO Jim LeBrun, Perkins County Health Services.
The $15.4 million expansion and renovation project included new construction of 28,884 square feet. The new modern facility will allow PCHS to meet their mission/vision statement with state of the art facilities.
PCHS is a 20 bed Critical Access Hospital with all Private Rooms, two Labor, Delivery and Post-Partum Rooms, two Isolation rooms, which includes one bariatric system, an Endoscopy Suite, Intensive Care Unit and a new Emergency Department adjacent to existing Diagnostic Imaging services. A helipad is easily accessible to the hospital’s Emergency Room. New space was constructed for several departments including the Community Hospital, Rehabilitation Therapy, Information Technology, Conference Center and Cardiac Rehabilitation.
Perkins County Health Services supports the County’s economy by providing jobs and benefits for more than 200 employees who have been providing quality health care services at Perkins County Hospital, Grant Medical Clinic, Golden Ours Convalescent Home, Park Ridge Assisted Living, Hi Line Home Health, and Hugs-n-Teddy Bears Daycare for more than 65 years.
Regional Senior Banker John Woodmancy of Adams Bank and Trust said, “Adams Bank and Trust is pleased to be part of the Perkins County Hospital expansion project. Perkins County Hospital is a leading provider of health services and a major employer for Perkins County. The expansion project will continue its leadership in providing outstanding health services and create the efficiencies needed to compete in this competitive industry currently and into the future. Again, we are pleased to be in a position to meet the financial needs of our community and especially the needs of Perkins County Health Services which is such an integral part of Perkins County.”
Market Manager and Senior Vice President of Valley Bank Donald W. Softley said, “Valley Bank is pleased and honored to serve as a partner in the Perkins County Hospital project. The Perkins County Hospital is an economic stalwart in southwest Nebraska with a significantly stable medical clientele. It is obviously paramount that the strategic evaluation and rationalization of the future medical needs of this County became the driving force behind this expansion project." Softley continued, "Valley Bank and Trust is impressed with the positive working relationship with Adams Bank and USDA in this endeavor."
For more information on the Community Facilities Direct Loan Program contact Natalie Furrow at 308-534-2360 ext. 1129 or Natalie.furrow@ne.usda.gov.
President Obama’s plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities. USDA’s investments in rural communities support the rural way of life that stands as the backbone of our American values.