Final plans underway at Crossing Rivers

“We’re on the home stretch of the construction of the new Crossing Rivers Health medical center. The final touches are being completed as the project enters its last month,” stated Bill Sexton, chief executive officer, recently. “We hope to be granted occupancy in the next few days. We’ve done a tremendous amount of planning, which will guide us through what we expect to be a well-orchestrated move from our current location on Taylor Street to the new medical center on U.S. Highway 18, across from the Prairie du Chien Municipal Airport.”

An activation steering team was established to drive the planning process and to ensure each department is equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to effectively coordinate the move and smoothly transition operation at the new facility. The team has focused on building readiness, information technology, patient-move planning, department-move planning, communication and public relations, education and training. The activation steering team includes clinical and non-clinical leaders from across the organization.

“It has been a well-coordinated process, with a goal that patients, employees, facility and business operations are supported and ready to ‘go live’ in the new building,” explained Nicole Martin, lean manager. “Our entire team at Crossing Rivers Health has been involved in this process. Their hard work and dedication have been truly remarkable; they have worked together to accomplish our goals.

“This is an event that happens once in 100 years, and it will not be business as usual. We have worked very diligently to ensure that our patients continue to receive very good care during the move. As with all improvements, our goal is to keep our patients and families well informed, and to minimize the disruption of care of our patients.”

As part of preparing to move to the new medical center, staff is being trained in their new work areas and on equipment operation and supply flow. Law enforcement and rescue squad personnel have also been oriented to the emergency department and other areas of the new facility.

Before the staff opens the doors to patients at the new Crossing Rivers Health medical center, the doors will open to the community at a grand opening on Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a ribbon cutting at 8:45 a.m. The grand opening will give area residents a rare opportunity to see areas such as surgery and obstetrics before they become a sterile and secure environment.

“While we are all excited for the opening of the new medical center, we want to ensure that the community clearly understands that until construction is complete, all hospital care services will still continue at 705 East Taylor Street,” Sexton said.