By Kirk Johannesen, The Republic
johannesen@therepublic.com
Columbus Regional Hospital is exploring ways to relocate services and employees to other locations, so patients can receive treatment with as little interruption as possible.
Chief Executive Officer Jim Bickel said top priorities are providing care for patients, re-establishing emergency services and retaining as many employees as possible.
CRH has to determine how to efficiently set up an emergency department, he said.
"Can we set up a mobile unit or a field tent as an emergency department here? Or operate a free-standing department elsewhere in the community?" Bickel asked.
Lynn Maguire, vice president of marketing and planning, said all physician offices are open in the city.
Outpatient services are easy to relocate, she said, and some already have been moved to clinics and offices.
For example, rehabilitation services have moved to CRH's rehab clinic on Marr Road.
However, more complex services, such as radiation oncology and laboratory services, probably will be moved to other hospitals.
Coordinating
Doug Leonard, president of Indiana Hospital Association, and CRH's former CEO, is coordinating with other state hospitals to see how they can help CRH.
He also is helping with expediting credentials for CRH physicians so they have privileges at other hospitals.
Bickel said having other hospitals hire physicians or other employees temporarily is necessary so patients get the treatment they need.
CRH will not receive fees for the services its doctors perform at other hospitals, which will strain the hospital's revenue, Bickel said.
The short-term relocation is necessary for the long-term health of CRH, Maguire said.
"If they can't treat patients and make a living, they will leave us," Maguire said.
"Our goal is to maintain staff that has helped make this a great hospital," Bickel said.
Bickel will meet with hospital employees Friday to listen to their concerns and to explain the hospital's plans.
CRH will have to use a portion of its cash reserves, set aside for the planned renovation and construction project, for payroll and rebuilding costs, he said.
"It's an easy decision to use that money," Bickel said.
He did not anticipate having to turn to the county for monetary assistance.
Leonard has been calling hospitals associations in other states that have been affected by floods, to learn how they set up funds for displaced employees.
Indiana hospitals have expressed interest in starting a fund.
Leonard is contacting other hospitals that have experienced flooding to get recovery tips.
"This is a disaster without many comparisons in the state," Leonard said.
"This is beyond anything I could have possibly dreamed or imagined."