CCHS moves forward with dental project

DAYTON-Columbia County Hospital District Board of Directors approved moving forward with the proposed Dental Project presented by CEO Shane McGuire, to contract with Davis Construction of Walla Walla. The company came in with the lowest bid of $345,000.

The Dental Clinic will offer basic services such as preventative maintenance and simple extractions. Questions regarding how the project will be funded were answered by McGuire, with $250,000 committed from legislation, $82,000 from state grants and another $100,000 promised through State Representative Skyler Rude (R-16). Columbia County Health will have to front the costs and be reimbursed, which should be a fairly quick process, according to McGuire.

McGuire also stated now is the time to do the dental clinic and other projects with the grant money on hand from the Provider Relief Fund through the Department of Health and Human Services. He says he seeks to “show good due diligence towards the funds being allocated whether the Board decides to spend them on the projects or not.”

The site planning for the Assisted Living Project has begun and has evolved from a plan to build eight-bed units to 10-bed units with possibilities for an additional unit in Dayton or Waitsburg and another small unit for traveling staff.

The Board has yet to approve some of the other projects as more information is needed. Projects that are being considered are the installation of a new generator, a medical air compressor and oxygen system, medical vacuum and suction with in-room terminations for each, and red hospital grade outlets in Acute Care rooms. These projects total just under $1.9 million.

Updated cost projections will be made available at the November meeting for two other projects–the proposed relocation of the current hospital generator to Booker Rest Home and building a hallway between Booker and Acute Care.

Business growth following the lockdowns at CCHS have started to level off and in some cases has slowed after an initial marked increase following the COVID lockdowns. But, CCHS remains within normal operational revenue according to the financial report.