Community leaders in the city of Hillsboro gathered today to celebrate the grand opening of the Hillsboro Community Hospital. The new eight-bed, critical access hospital is a 20,000 square-foot facility, with a 7,700 square-foot clinic connected to it.
“Access to quality, affordable healthcare is important to rural Kansans,” said Acting USDA Rural Development State Director Karissa Stiers. “The new facility will allow Marion County residents to receive healthcare in a state-of-the-art facility that is close to home.”
The Hillsboro Community Hospital offers a wide range of healthcare services including: inpatient care; swing bed care; emergency services; outpatient services; diagnostic imaging; laboratory; surgical; pharmacy; physical, respiratory, speech, and occupational therapy; electro-cardiology and a sleep lab. Thirty-six employees are currently employed by the hospital, and with the new facility an additional four employees are anticipated to be needed.
Financing for the new hospital is being provided by a $9.7 million loan provided by the Bank of Hays, and a $1.3 million bond passed by the city of Hillsboro. USDA Rural Development is providing a 70 percent guarantee on the Bank of Hays loan, through the agency’s Business & Industry Guaranteed Loan Program.
The hospital in Hillsboro dates back to 1915 under the direction of Salem Hospital. In 1998, Salem Hospital transferred all assets to the Public Building Commission of the City of Hillsboro. For the next decade the hospital was then sub-leased back to Salem Hospital. In June 2008, CAH Acquisition Company # 5 LLC, purchased the hospital operations, all the hospital personal property, and a 14-acre parcel of land for the replacement hospital. HMC/CAH Consolidated, Inc., currently owns and manages the Hillsboro Community Hospital.
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities for citizens and businesses in rural areas. Programs help improve infrastructure; start or expand businesses; help residents buy homes; fund community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care facilities; and bring high-speed Internet access to rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/ks, or contact (785) 271-2700.