Photo: Discussing the improvements slated for the Gowrie clinic in Stewart Memorial Community Hospital’s Patient Centered Healing Environment Project are Daryl Carlson, EVP, General Manager and Marcie Boerner, office manager, of Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association, Kari Swisher, ARNP-C, Dr. Adam Swisher, and SMCH CEO Cindy Carstens
Stewart Memorial Community Hospital (SMCH) of Lake City has announced they have received a $360,000 zero-interest loan from Webster-Calhoun Cooperative Telephone Association (WCCTA) of Gowrie to fund a portion of their Patient Centered Healing Environment project. To create the revolving loan fund, the WCCTA awarded a $300,000 grant through a USDA Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program and committed another $30,000 that was then matched by Aueron’s Ripple Effect grant. The entire project is estimated to cost $860,000 and will consist of updates in all four of their clinics. These changes will not only affect the aesthetics of the clinics in Lake City, Rockwell City, Lake View and Gowrie, they will impact functionality as well. The clinics were built 30 years ago, prior to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), so updates that will allow for more ease of use will be a focus of the new patient centered healing environment, along with considerations for the physical, mental and emotional needs of the patient. Fundraising for the project began in December of 2016.
