September 1, 2022 |
August has come and gone, and work continues at the North Platte Valley Medical Center. Earlier this year, NPVMC officials had set a soft date of sometime in August for a grand opening.
As of this week, landscaping has not begun. Work on the exterior of the building continues. A key piece of electrical equipment necessary for bringing the facility to life remains on backorder.
Sonja Collamer is the vice-chair of the NPVMC board of directors. Collamer expressed disappointment as she discussed the string of supply chain delays and inflation-related cost increases that have set back the opening of the facility. With the soft opening date in the rear-view mirror, no other date is circled on the calendar at this time.
Pictured above: The front desk at the main entrance of the North Platte Valley Medical Center. The critical access hospital is still under construction in Saratoga. Photo courtesy NPVMC.
Collamer said the project has experienced delays from the start. The biggest is uncertainty surrounding the delivery what will be the electrical heartbeat of the facility. A sophisticated breaker known as a switchgear that monitors and controls power conducting equipment remains on backorder.
As with ordering anything this year, the news the NPVMC receives may not be what they want to hear. Other equipment cannot be installed until the switchgear is in place and operational. Collamer said the setting an opening date is difficult because of the numerous setbacks.
Sletten Construction of Wyoming, the contractor on the project, has battled through extreme heat, high winds, blowing dust and winter storms to build the 43,000 square feet facility. When complete it will provide 24/7 emergency services with advanced imaging, and feature two 20-bed wings, exams rooms, an in-house lab and a rehab center. It will also provide long-term care for seniors close to home.
It’s unclear what the delays and inflationary pressures will mean for the bottom line cost of the project.
Earlier this week, the NPVMC announced that Dr. Brendan Fitzsimmons will take over as medical director and head physician of the facility. Fitzsimmons will replace Dr. Durham who departs before the facility ever opens.
Prior to joining valley hospital, Fitsimmons was the physician at the Lander Clinic as part of St. John’s Health in Jackson. He also practiced in Pinedale and at the North and South Big Horn County Hospital Districts. He is board certified with a wide degree of experience in rural healthcare.
According to release, Fitzsimmons will start November 1st. Collamer said the start date has nothing to do with a possible opening date for the hospital.
Collamer said everyone associated with the project is “chomping at the bit” to open as soon as possible, but there is no way of knowing when that will be because of the manufacturing delays.
