Hilda Legg, right, state director for USDA Rural Development, presents Ohio County Healthcare CEO Blain Pieper, left, with a plaque commemorating the USDA loan funding for the new surgical center at the hospital. (Photo by Dustin Bratcher/OC Monitor.)
HARTFORD, Ky. — Ohio County Healthcare has secured $21.5 million in funding from the United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development program for the expansion of hospital properties to include a new surgical wing, purchase of new equipment, renovation of vacated space and refinancing of existing debt.
The project was publicly announced Tuesday during a CARES Act news conference hosted by U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
During the visit, Senator McConnell spoke of the over $12 million dollars of federal funds and loans received by Ohio County Healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. McConnell praised OCH for securing CARES Act funding from the Medicare Advanced Payment program, the paycheck protection program and other public health relief funds.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was in OhioCounty Tuesday to visit front-line healthcare workers and present Ohio County Healthcare with funds for help fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Dustin Bratcher/OC Monitor.)
The funding was used to implement needed COVID-19 testing and treatment resources, as well as to, help offset the loss of revenues from the suspension of elective surgeries for several months. Senator McConnell also recognized the many Ohio County Healthcare Heroes who continue to provide screening, testing and treatment services for COVID-19 patients.
Ohio County Healthcare will use the $21.5 million investment from the USDA Rural Development program to build a new 26,000 square-foot surgical center that will include a walkway connecting it to the existing building, a large waiting area, multiple procedure rooms of various sizes, rooms for pre-op and post-operative care and spaces for staff, testing, equipment, and supplies.
OCH has contracted with Earl Swensson Architects out of Nashville for the design of the project. OCH anticipates breaking ground on the new surgical wing in the spring of 2021.
“Quality healthcare brings strength to our rural communities, and projects like this to construct a new surgical center help bring better healthcare to Ohio County and the surrounding communities,” said Hilda Legg, USDA Rural Development State Director.
Legg also thanked the federal government for being valuable partners in helping rural communities across the commonwealth to provide essential services to their residents. Legg presented Blaine Pieper, OCH CEO, with a plaque during today’s announcement commemorating this partnership to expand access to care in rural communities.
