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Show Remodeling Work at Allen Memorial Hospital Now Meurly Completed With the exception of some small amounts of painting of trim, remodeling remod-eling work at Allen Mem. orial Hospital which has been in progress for almost al-most a year is now complete. com-plete. Hospital Administrator Kay Hawks reported that about $400 is left of $10,-000 $10,-000 which was budgeted for the improvements at the facility. In addition, Hawks stated that lights for the hallway were worked work-ed into the budget and had been installed. Rejuvenation at the facility fa-cility included lights for the rooms, wood paneling, carpeting for rooms and hallways, and draperies. The addition of these items it-ems has made Allen Memorial Me-morial one of the most up to date facilities in the area. In addition, purch ases during the past few years, -of equipment to replace re-place outdated items, has brought all machinery up to date and it now is i:i good working order. Mr. Hawks stated that in W future, equipment will be replaced on a schedule and will be budgeted for as such rather than having to be replaced all at once which causes financial problems. Economic problems continue con-tinue to plague the facility, facil-ity, Hawks said. The census cen-sus for this year has once again dropped, although admissions remain about the same. The drop is accounted ac-counted for by the length of time spent in the hospital hos-pital by the patients. In 1968 there were 1143 admissions with an aver age patient load of 16.78. In 1969, 1,046 people were admitted with a load fat-tor fat-tor of 15.81; and in 1970 admissions remained thw same at 1,016, but patient load dropped to an average aver-age of 14.03. Figures for the first two months of the current year are even more alarming alarm-ing with the load for January and February set at 13.2 compared with 16.8 last year; 18.1 for 1969, and 20.1 for 1968. Admissions Admis-sions are remaining about the same as last year, however. Collections at the facility fa-cility are now better. M.-. Hawks stated that since the hospital is now taking all accounts delinquent for 90 clays into small claims court fro collection, the situation has improved. TVn'y wppk- ii. 1mvip num ber of new babies in the facility caused the east wing to be opened, causing caus-ing added financial strain on the budget. Concern over inefficient space utilization util-ization problems has been discussed frequently at meetings of the Hospital's Board of Trustees, and has prompted a meeting of that Board with the Grand County Commission this Thursday. The group will discuss possible utilization util-ization of space at the hospital for conversion to nursing home use, mental health center, or other health related facilities. The B-card hopes to have a feasibility study done dnto possibilities for conversion con-version of this area to meet other needs, it was announced. |