by Independence, Iowa (KCRG) – Buchanan County Heath Center staff say a new inpatient care unit will make a huge difference in the community.
A hospital is generally not a place where people like to stay. Saturday at the Buchanan County Health center is an exception.
Community members toured the halls of the hospital’s new inpatient care unit.
“It’s just a continued progression of healthier communities and I think they’re excited about it,” said Wade Weis, CEO of the Buchanan County Health Center
Even from outside the hospital, it is clear that keeping the facility state-of-the-art is a priority. For the center’s employees, the new inpatient care unit is a crucial next step.
“We have to keep growing. Healthcare is constantly changing, so we need to change with it,” said Tara McEnany, Chief Nursing Officer at Buchanan County Health Center.
The new technology and additional space is one thing, but with increased inpatient care capacity, Buchanan County residents won’t have to travel far to get the care they need.
“Finding offsite rooms at the larger hospitals has been tremendously more problematic over the past five years,” said Joni Henderson, hospitalist at Buchanan County Health Center.
Before the new space, the hospital had had the same inpatient care unit since the 1960s, and staff say it was often full in recent years, meaning some patients had to make a trip to Waterloo or Cedar Rapids.
“It allows the people of Buchanan County to stay in Buchanan County and receive continuous care, especially since primary care is the focus,” Henderson said.
So while people traveling through this space probably don’t want to spend too much time here, it’s reassuring that what they need is in their region.
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