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Summit Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Ron McArthur addressed those attending the Snowflake-Taylor Chamber Lunch and Learn on April 24. He provided information on the ongoing building project that began in November of 2014 when Summit purchased the Pine Shadows Mobile Home and RV Park for expansion and how that expansion is now impacting the future of patient care in the region.
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The construction of the Outpatient Pavilion, Ambulatory Surgery Center and Administrative Services Building began on Nov. 9, 2017, with completion and move-in to all facilities expected to be done by August of this year, culminating in a community open house on Aug. 24.
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McArthur said the goal behind the expansion was to enable patients “to make it a one-stop shop. They can do all their out-patient services in one location.”
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The main hospital will remain the in-patient campus, housing the Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Room as well as a new behavioral health unit that is scheduled to be open by January of 2020.
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“The fifth floor of the main hospital is being remodeled for the behavioral health unit,” said McArthur. “We need beds for people with behavioral disorders. We have twice the suicide rate of any other county and are trying to address those needs as well as provide more behavioral medical services, including recruiting a psychiatrist.”
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McArthur noted that the Outpatient Pavilion, which is scheduled to open in late June, will house a complete diagnostic imaging service as well as a wound care center, pharmacy and laboratory services.
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“There is also a treatment pool, as well as cardiac rehabilitation, speech therapy and Serenity Spa,” continued McArthur. “With the retail pharmacy in the building, patients can get their prescriptions on the way out after seeing their doctor.”
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Thirteen clinics are scheduled to relocate to the Pavilion throughout the summer, but McArthur assured everyone that the outpatient clinics in Snowflake, Heber, Pinetop and Show Low would remain in those towns and cities, with plans to open one in St. Johns by end of year.
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Of special note is the 16,000 square foot surgery center scheduled to open in July. With four operating rooms and a special procedures room, McArthur said that the center will enable Summit to be competitive in the surgery marketplace.
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“Eighty percent of all surgeries are now being done as outpatient,” shared McArthur. “With the center we can be competitive with our prices, so that we can compete with other surgery centers.”
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With the new buildings on track, Summit is also working to do an electronic medical record (EMR) conversion on June 1. “We have eight to 10 different systems being used by everyone,” said McArthur. “We made a decision to buy an EMR system to get everyone on the same system, which means the physicians can see what was already done for the patient, procedures won’t have to be repeated. It will make it easier on everyone.”
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Another new piece is the centralized call center where with one number a patient can schedule an appointment with anyone of the 120 providers offered by Summit. “Other than the Emergency Room, patients can call one number and reach a live body on the phone. May 15 is our go-live for the call center and we are hoping to do all of the outpatient scheduling as well,” continued McArthur.
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With insurance rates continually increasing and higher deductibles, Summit has partnered with MDSave.com to help patients save up to 60 percent on medical services like imaging, general surgery and lab work, by prepaying before receiving treatment.
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McArthur said, “MDsave is designed for high deductibles giving patients access to cash pricing. Any of the clinics or the hospital administrative office can help patients with this.”
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As he concluded his talk, McArthur shared, “It is amazing how many of our physicians have roots in Snowflake and want to come home. We have a lot of doctors with ties here. Snowflake is well represented in our leadership team, but we are always open to hearing what services are needed up here.”
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