NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (GPH)-COVID-19 did not delay the construction of the newly expanded Great Plains Health emergency department, which opened in October, with all phases of construction complete. The pandemic did, however, curb a large gathering to celebrate the completion. The five-year construction project culminated rather quietly.
“We may not be able to invite the public in to celebrate due to COVID, but you can feel the excitement inside these walls,” said Mel McNea, Great Plains Health chief executive officer. “The staff and providers are extremely pleased, not only that the construction is over, but in the results as well. This expansion project is about delivering a high level of emergency care in a timely manner to the people in our region. The state-of-the-art design and technology that we incorporated throughout are already helping us to accomplish that,” said McNea.
“I have been in a lot of emergency departments across the state, and even a few out of state, and this one at Great Plains Health is second to none,” said Dr. James Smith, emergency department medical director. “Being an independent hospital afforded us the ability to be involved every step of the way in design and technology decisions to ensure we meet the needs of our for region years to come.”
The Great Plains Health emergency department sees nearly 20,000 patients each year. With the demand continuing to rise, the hospital leadership and board of directors, in collaboration with the Great Plains Health Care Foundation, created a funding and design plan for an expanded emergency department that totaled approximately $15 million.
The fundraising was kicked off by a $5 million challenge gift, prompting a community-wide effort to match that $5 million. The community responded to the challenge over a three-year campaign led by the Great Plains Health Care Foundation.
“We couldn’t have been successful in such a project without the generous support from our Foundation, community members and the support from the hospital board of directors who allocated the final amount needed to move this project forward,” said Ivan Mitchell, chief operating officer. “This is a great example of coming together for the betterment of our community. This truly is our community’s emergency department.”
The virtual tour can be viewed by the public at gphealth.org.
