Hospital Helping Health Department Relocate
KSAL Staff - Fri 09:01 AM 06/01/2012
Health Department hopes to relocate early next week
Salina Regional Heath Center is working with city and county officials in helping relocate the Salina / Saline County Health Department.
A structure problem with the roof caused the agency to immediately close, and they must relocate. The recently discovered roof issue makes it necessary to close because it causes safety concerns. Officials are currently determining how to correct the problem.
Both Salina City Commissioners and Saline County Commissioners called special meetings Friday morning to discuss the issue.
City commissioners were told that the agency is working with Salina Regional Health Center in finding a new location. The hospital's executive committee has endorsed the idea of finding clinic space.
City Manager Jason Gage said that he hopes to have a proposal ready for commissioners to consider at their Monday meeting.
Health Department Executive Director Yvonne Gibbons says that she hopes that the agency can relocate early next week. In the interim they are going to provide as many services as they can. All health department out of office services can continue. But all services that take place inside the building have stopped.
Gibbons says that they may set up a temporary shelter in the parking lot to offer very basic medical services, things like TB skin tests.
Clients with upcoming appointments will be contacted by health department staff to reschedule or make other arrangements for receiving essential services.
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BONEMAN
Friday 1 June 2012 09:41 Report this comment
There is a building behind the Ace Hardware. It was the old Dr. Drivers Eye Doctor building. Has plenty of room in it. Plus a additional building behind it. Last I knew it was for sale.
BDMcGee
Friday 1 June 2012 10:27 Report this comment
Put it in the empty space at hospice since they won't let them relocate psych services there.
itchyme
Friday 1 June 2012 11:33 Report this comment
Since we're talking about buildings, the old Sutherland building is empty. It has plenty of room inside for quite a few services and a big parking lot. Don't know why somebody hasn't already occupied it.
tlittle
Friday 1 June 2012 12:13 Report this comment
I hope the Commissioners take this serious and do what is right for the long term due to the impact this place has on the city and county. So many different services offered there and compare it to another county in the area, the workers there are impressive. I hope each commissioner does their homework and could tell someone if asked what role each sub-department in the health dept offers and how it positively effects the whole community.
preacherswife
Friday 1 June 2012 12:55 Report this comment
What or who is using the old hospital building? Would that not work.
hillbilly
Friday 1 June 2012 17:00 Report this comment
There's many old and empty buildings in Salina but ask yourself this question: will the building serve the department needs and the parking needs for the citizens of Salina? Will whatever building is chosen eventually have similar problems that the current building has? Wouldn't it serve the needs best by maybe looking at constructing a new green building on city owned property?
Iamgonnagetu
Friday 1 June 2012 23:34 Report this comment
Hillbilly are you donating the money for the building?
Iamgonnagetu
Friday 1 June 2012 23:36 Report this comment
Just close it down until the roof is fixed. Threat it just like magnolia which more than 6000 people are inconvenienced everyday.
getumgranny
Saturday 2 June 2012 05:44 Report this comment
There are many suitable, useful buildings sitting empty in Salina that would need some minor renovations, and move them in!! The commercial business in our community is in the toilet right now,(except eating establishments) putting some of the fantastic old buildings to use would help the community, I really wish people would explore this idea before building new!!