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CAT Tracks for August 19, 2009
OVER A DECADE IN THE MAKING |
From the KFVS TV Channel 12 Website...
$6 million hospital wing, ER to be built in Cairo
By Christy Hendricks
CAIRO, IL (KFVS) - Plans for a new hosptial wing and emergency room in cairo have folks around Cairo buzzing with anticipation.
It's been more than 22 years since the old hospital in Cairo shut down, leaving thousands without emergency healthcare close by.
"(The) hospital mainly we need it," said Christine Covington of Cairo. "Help our elderly and our children, sick and afflicted and down. We need it."
But a $6 million expansion at the Cairo MegaClinic promises to restore emergency services.
Fred Bernstein, CEO of Community Health and Emergency Services, Inc. has worked 12 years with state and federal lawmakers for an expansion at the MegaClinic in Cairo.
"One is to be able to provide emergency care on a 24/7 basis and two to be able to take care of those kinds of urgent care needs," Bernstein said.
CHESI serves seven counties, including four of the poorest in the state.
The clinic provides basic doctor and dental, and outpatient surgeries, with a lab and radiology department on site, but the expansion will create a 16 bed wing with 24/7 emergency services.
"We also have the greatest need for care that's more immediately accessible because we're farther away from existing hospitals here," Bernstein said.
The closest hospitals are Sikeston and Cape Girardeau, at least 30 minutes away.
"We see probably 15 to 20 people a year in the early going that we lost because we didn't have this kind of help available. There isn't a year passes that we didn't lose people because they didn't get to the care they needed on a timely basis."
Residents in town agree an emergency room would be a lifesaver.
"It would mean a whole lot for the mothers, the children, the elderly," said Christine Covington of Cairo. "It would mean a whole lot for these cause they wouldn't have to go so far to see an emergency room or see a doctor. It would be a help.
"I think it's good because you gotta drive a long way to get to a hospital so it'd be right there," said Erica McGoy. "It's good."
"As far as actually having the hospital in closer proximity, yes that will save lives and it will better lives as far as having the jobs available," said Gabrielle Harris.
Bernstein says the new wing will create 60 to 75 construction jobs and nearly double their healthcare staff, adding up to 80 jobs.
Once $3 million in state capital construction funds is released, the project could be completed in two years. The other $3 million will come from federal funds and private foundations.
