Financing approved for Colville hospital work

Renovation and expansion of Mount Carmel Hospital in Colville could begin as early as this fall after a state board approved $22.6 million in tax-exempt bonds.

The financing was approved last week by the Washington Health Care Facilities Authority as part of a $383 million bond request by Providence Health & Services, with which Mount Carmel is affiliated.

“We are simply gratified the authority saw fit to approve the application,” said Chuck Howley, Providence vice president for governmental affairs.

The hospital, which serves Stevens, Ferry and Pend Oreille counties, has had four major additions since it was built in 1952, but its plumbing and electrical systems have never been upgraded, according to Dianna Michaels, a Mount Carmel spokeswoman. She said the project will overhaul the building’s infrastructure as well as more than double its size. Exact dimensions of the project have yet to be determined.

Mount Carmel, which employees about 240 people, will not add any beds, however, because it is a federally designated critical access hospital and is limited to 25 beds. Instead, the addition will accommodate outpatient surgery, a new front entrance and waiting area, said Gordon McLean, Mount Carmel president.

It also is hoped that the renovation will allow the hospital to move its rehabilitation services from downtown Colville and add food services. Currently, meals are provided by the nearby Pinewood Terrace Nursing Center.

“The hospital had its own kitchen since 1987,” McLean said.

The project is still in the analysis stage but is expected to cost between $20 million to $30 million, McLean said. The architect is KDF Architecture, of Yakima. Bouton Construction, of Spokane, also has been providing advice, McLean said.

“We’re trying to plan 20 to 25 years ahead,” McLean said.