Pioneers Medical Center Tops Out

MEEKER, Colo. — Pioneers Medical Center topped out this month, with the last beam on the nearly 90,000-square-foot facility going up before the outside walls will be built.

“We are thrilled with the progress of this project,” said Ken Harman, CEO of Pioneers Medical Center, in a statement. “Our next goal is to have the building weatherproof this October. At the current pace, we are on track to open in June 2015.”

The project includes a new 10-bed acute-care hospital, a 30-bed long-term care unit, a 4,000-square-foot outpatient rehabilitation unit and a 7,400-square-foot rural health clinic. When complete in 2015, the new facility will offer the same services as before, but will feature a new pharmacy, designed to allow chemotherapy, infusion treatment and onsite prescription mixing. Additionally, the facility is adding a new pediatric care program in the outpatient area of the facility, as well as new private rooms, increased handicap accessibility, and privacy and safety features. A new Meeker Family Health Center will be able to provide more exam rooms, three procedure rooms and an area dedicated to pediatric patients.

Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health Resources (QHR) has been working as a consulting resource for the project along with health care facilities development firm AHFD, also based in Brentwood.

“Moving closer toward the completion of the replacement facility is an exciting milestone to reach,” said Bill Donatelli, vice president of western operations of QHR, in a statement. “Topping out signifies that the right investments and decisions are being made to provide outstanding health care to the Meeker community. Since the start of the project, AHFD has worked closely with the hospital’s executive team and the board, and we are very pleased to see it progressing both on time and on budget.”

The total project will cost about $47 million and is being funded from reserves, a bank loan, grants and donations. The facility is coming together with the design from Denver-based architect Davis Partnership, and Haselden Construction in Centennial, Colo., is the general contractor.