A celebration was held in a former farm field on a warm and muggy Tuesday morning on the north edge of Bushnell.
Politicians and civic leaders were there for the groundbreaking ceremony for McDonough District Hospital’s new medical facility.
The city agreed to purchase the land and then supply the utilities up to the building
“The main part of the services will be a primary care clinic,” said MDH CEO Kenny Boyd.
“We are also building space inside for therapy services as well as an ambulance garage to locate in the future our first EMS substation.”
Boyd said all of MDH’s ambulances are currently based in Macomb. He said the substation will help reduce response times in the northeast part of the county.
The primary care clinic will house the practice of Dr. John Arnold.
Boyd said the project is being made possible through the assistance of the city and the Bushnell Economic Development Corporation.
“The city agreed to purchase the land and then supply the utilities up to the building, therefore saving us some of that infrastructure cost to allow us to dedicate our resources to the actual facility and human needs,” said Boyd.
The cost of the roughly five-acre site was $100,120. The cost was split by the city and BEDC.
“We selected about five different sites for the hospital to look at and they made the final determination of which site they wanted” said BEDC President Steve Holland.
“I think it will be perfect. I think it’s a great location. It’s the north edge of town and kind of a gateway to our city.”
MDH estimated the construction cost will be $1.6 million. The building should be completed by early 2014.
Boyd said the clinic should be able to handle a patient load of 5,000 – 6,000.
