The Master Plan
Hutchinson Regional Medical Center has a strong vision for the future of healthcare delivery in Reno County and beyond. Our master plan for the future includes facility upgrades to our current building and grounds and the addition new facilities as demand dictates.
Nearly forty years ago, Hutchinson community leaders faced many challenges in an effort to ensure appropriate healthcare services for the residents of Hutchinson and Reno County. Although Hutchinson had two hospitals, St. Elizabeth and Grace Methodist, questions arose regarding the community’s ability to continue to support two separate facilities and whether this was the best model to carry the county into the future. Both of the hospitals were aging facilities. Grace Hospital opened in its location on Main Street in 1945 and St Elizabeth opened in 1920. It became clear that a new hospital needed to be built. What was not clear was the funding for such a brave endeavor. These visionary leaders came together and championed an unprecedented community collaboration to merge Grace and St. Elizabeth hospitals creating Hutchinson Hospital.
In the early 1970s, people from Hutchinson and the surrounding area opened their hearts and their finances in an amazing unification of spirit and mission. Land for the new hospital was donated and $3.8 million dollars was pledged for construction, which equates to nearly $20 million in today’s dollars. Hutchinson Hospital was a promise for the future and a legacy for generations yet to come.
In 1975, there were 37 doctors on staff. Today, we are proud of the quality and depth of our 145 physicians on staff. This outstanding medical community, representing more than 28 specialties and subspecialties, has brought worldwide attention to the hospital for medical and technological engineering and advancements. In addition, many of the medical staff are adjunct faculty with the University of Kansas School of Medicine, teaching physicians to meet the needs of communities tomorrow. In partnership with the hospital, the medical staff has brought clinical research trials to Hutchinson and central Kansas.
Our workforce has grown from 600 employees in 1975, to more than1600 employees system-wide in 2009. Annually, the corporation feeds $41.2 million in payroll into the local economy with a total economic impact of more than $65 million when economic multipliers are considered. Our talented and caring employees set the standard for service excellence across the state. Together with our physicians, we provided care and services for over 115,000 patient visits last year.
The landscape is changing
Across the last four decades, astonishing changes have taken place in the medical field. These include new medical technologies and knowledge, new electronic information and communications systems, significant reimbursement issues, changing consumer demographics and expectations, and a greater commitment to improving community health. In addition, competition for medical care has increased with the growth of specialty hospitals in the surrounding area. Most critical is the ever-increasing demand for the best in emergency response, cutting-edge cancer treatments, improved stroke and pulmonary care, and top-notch heart and vascular services. Our future mission must include these items as the new basics in total care.
It demands an enlarged vision
The medical center board and executive leadership team has identified critical issues, established success factors, and defined and prioritized strategic actions. The vision is clear:
- We must execute infrastructure upgrades and renovations to prevent further deterioration and fulfill changing code and regulatory requirements.
- We must build to replace units that can no longer be merely renovated in order to fulfill code and regulatory requirements and support quality patient care.
- We must create a patient-centered and family oriented care model in a safe, relaxing, and total healing environment.
Advancing care along with expectations
As technology advances, new treatment modalities emerge, and life expectancy increases, expectation and demand for critical care services are also elevated. Patients have the right to expect top-notch facilities and physicians. Those physicians want to practice in hospitals that provide only the very best in technology, service, and facilities. Employees want to work in them. We must provide the care and physical building that our patients, physicians and staff expect, demand, and need.
We’re perpetuating a legacy
The men and women who over the years have given precious time, talent and funds to the hospital are the kind of people who gave beyond themselves to something intangible: a legacy of care. They envisioned a place where quality medical care and excellence in service delivery were synonymous. The current excellence of Hutchinson Regional Medical Center is built upon the foundation of its original founders.
But today, the needs and spirit of this hospital have outgrown its walls. It’s time for Hutchinson Regional to create a focus for health care and economic growth for the city of Hutchinson, Reno County and the central Kansas area. The people we serve need and deserve exceptional medical care with easy access in an organization with Midwestern roots and values.
The leadership team of Hutchinson Regional is on a continuous quest for the best balance of investment in infrastructure and return of quality services to the community. As the master plan crystalizes, you'll find updated information here.