Expansion Update

Hospital Expansion Video
  Preliminary video fly-by of the hospital expansion (exterior view). Check back often for video updates as the expansion project progresses.

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Notice of Preparation of Environmental Impact Report, Notice of Scoping and Draft Initial Study
  Tulare District Hospital invites you to review the Notice of Preparation (NOP) of Environmental Impact Report, Notice of Public Scoping Meeting (NOS) & Draft Initial Study (DIS) prepared for the Proposed Hospital Expansion-Phase 1, project.

Click here to open the document.

If you are unable to open or otherwise view or download the document from this website, you may call 559-685-3462 to make arrangements for an appointment to view a hard copy at the Tulare District Hospital, Allied Services Building, 2nd floor, Administration Dept., 869 N. Cherry St., Tulare, CA, during normal business hours.

The NOP/NOS/DIS document contains a detailed description of the proposed project and important information about potential environmental effects that will be covered in an Environmental Impact Report to be prepared pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act. The document also contains information about Public Scoping Meetings, to be held April 9, 2008 during which you may ask questions or express concerns about environmental effects of the proposed project.

Expansion project on schedule
  The hospital has finalized the sale of $15 million of the $85 million in bonds approved by votes in September of 2005 for the construction of a new tower as planning of the four-story tower moves into the next phase.
With the sale of the bonds, the work toward building the tower has moved into high gear and everything is on schedule for construction to begin in early 2010 and for the hospital to move into the new tower in mid-2012.
“We’re very excited. We’re on time and moving into the next phase,” said Interim CEO Bob Kelley.
Especially exciting is the first rendering of how the outside of the new tower will look that was presented to the Master Planning Committee two weeks ago.
The schematic design phase of the project is being wrapped up. Next will come a cost analysis of  the construction and a cost analysis of what furnishings and equipment will cost.
‘That will take about 30 days,” said Pat Brietigam, project manager with Harris and Associates.
Brietigam said the cost analysis phase is very critical in that it will give staff a clearer picture of what the project will eventually cost. Estimates right now are is the project will run about $120 million.
“Once we finish costing analysis we’ll have numbers people can work with,” he said.
The next phase will be the design development phase, a critical step to finalize plans before construction documents are drawn up.
“That’s filling up the room – lighting, all the amenities we need,” said Brietigam of the design development phase. “This is where we make all the decisions on what goes into the building as far as technology goes.”
He said that will be a six month process before the documents that will be sent to the state are to be finalized. That will also be a point when few, and hopefully only minor changes will be needed.
The hospital is also getting ready to start traffic and parking studies, as well as an environmental impact study.
The basic plan has not changed. The first floor will house  20-room emergency department; the second floor the six surgery suites; the third floor the 16 private birthing rooms and nursery; and the fourth floor, 26 private patient rooms.
Brietigam said there are still several outstanding issues that the Master Planning Committee and hospital board of directors will have to iron out before the construction documents are drawn.
Overall, he said, “Things are going very well.”