North Platte, Neb. Last week, Great Plains Health Care Foundation announced its “Minutes Matter” fundraising campaign to raise money for an emergency department renovation and expansion at Great Plains Health. Over the past 10 years, patient visits to the emergency department have grown roughly four percent annually, to nearly 19,000 visits in 2015. Factors that have impacted the growth of the emergency department include the addition of new specialty service lines and partnerships with critical access hospitals in the region.
 
The current emergency department lacks the necessary space, design and technology required to adequately meet the full range of emergency health needs presented by the continuous increase in patient visits. The $15.5 million project will provide much-needed improvements to Great Plains Health’s current emergency area.
 
The project will be funded through collaboration between Great Plains Health ($5 million), Great Plains Health Care Foundation ($2 million in investment reserves) and philanthropists Bill and Ruth Scott of Omaha. Mr. Scott was treated at Great Plains Health in 2005 and has generously offered a gift of $5 million toward the project as gratitude for the quality care he received. This gift, however, comes as a challenge to our community and region to invest in our own local health care by raising an additional $3.5 million.
 
Great Plains Health Care Foundation began fundraising in February among members of the governing and Foundation boards, employees, employed physicians and community leaders.
 
“To date, over $2.28 million has been raised toward our $3.5 million goal,” said Libby Lashley, Great Plains Health Care Foundation director.
 
If the necessary funding is raised in the community, the renovation and expansion will be completed in phases and is expected to take roughly 18 months. The community is invited to participate and support this unique opportunity. 
 
“This is the largest project the Foundation has ever undertaken” said Lashley. “Our region has been offered an exceptional gift by Bill and Ruth Scott. Their generosity is inspirational. I hope that everyone who has been treated at Great Plains Health and who believes in investing in local health care makes a gift in support of this project. It would be an honor to accept a $5 million gift on behalf of our community.”
 
The new facility will provide:

• Enhanced capacity through an increase in exam spaces from 12 to 29 private rooms
• Six fast-track, noncritical treatment areas
• Three trauma rooms
• Isolation room for treatment of infectious disease
• Separate locked area to treat behavioral health patients
• Private exam area and bathroom for victims of domestic and sexual assault
• Full privacy for patients and families through the addition of new reception areas and  consultation rooms
• Increased security to ensure the safety of all patients and guests
• Improved intake-to-care flow to reduce registration and wait time, as well as to expedite the delivery of care
• Greater innovation in patient care through the availability of state-of-the-art health technology