Hospital Will Hire National Firm for project Study

DAYTON – The Columbia County Health System board of directors decided last week to hire an outside firm to help them determine how best to spend the $5.5 million bond approved by voters in November.

The hospital district will contract with Stroudwater Associates, a national firm whose consultants design solutions for healthcare, according to Interim CEO Jon Smiley.

“They will evaluate our need and provide us with recommendations,” Smiley said.

The assessment conducted by Stroudwater will cost the district approximately $60,000, Smiley said, and he will meet with them next week to determine a timeline for the study.

The firm’s online site states they are a team of clinicians, managers, corporate officers, retirement bankers, financial analysts and content specialists well versed in the academic medical center and community hospital markets.

As The Times reported, Columbia County Health System leaders discussed hiring the firm earlier this month during an all-day retreat to discuss projects and proposals for spending the recently approved bond money.

The general idea has been to use the money for the first major renovation to Dayton General Hospital since the facility was built in 1964; proposals included improvements to the nurses’ station, food service facilities, and a major expansion of the physical therapy facilities including the addition of an aqua therapy pool.

Stroudwater, District Board Member Ted Paterson said last week, is an objective, non-architectural company that will look at the architecture of a remodel, the desires of the system to change, the efficiencies of the recommended or considered changes, the district’s volume, community needs, and return on investment.