By Karlie Belle Price. 8/01/2011
*References: Boone Examiner
MADISON

Plans to break ground for a new hospital at Boone Memorial may happen sooner than some may think.

Just last month, BMH Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to hire a design-build company that will allow BMH to move forward with building a brand new hospital, with hopes of breaking ground in the Spring of 2012. Mullins said completion of the project is estimated to take 24 months from the time of groundbreaking. The hospital will build the new, separate hospital next door to its existing location. Once the new hospital is completed the original building will be demolished.

“The Board had many discussions as to whether we should remodel the existing hospital versus build a brand new facility, but they all agreed that the community deserves a fresh, new hospital,” said Tommy Mullins, BMH Administrator.

Boone Memorial Hospital first opened its doors in 1964 and has been providing health care to Boone County and the surrounding area ever since. With the philosophy of “People Serving People” - first initiated in the 1960s, BMH has continued to provide personal, quality healthcare on an individual basis and still stands by its current motto - “We Care for Life.”

“Boone Memorial Hospital has always prided itself in treating each patient on a very personal level. Our employees truly “DO” care. Even though we will build a new hospital, our reputation for treating patients like family will hold true in the newer structure. The building itself may change but the same top-notch, experienced staff and quality healthcare will remain,” said Mullins.

Various plans, designs, suggestions and at time even controversy has risen over the past few years. Some of which have placed plans on hold throughout the process. Questions such as...”Do we refurbish the existing structure or completely build a new facility?” “How will we pay for a new hospital?,” and “Where should it be built?”