Projects planned at IU Health Jay

Upgrades are coming to IU Health Jay. Remaining funds will likely be set aside for future health-related initiatives.

Jay County Commissioners on Monday approved an amendment to the integration agreement between Jay County Hospital and Indiana University Health to transfer about $1.25 million in funds set aside for capital improvements to The Portland Foundation.

IU Health Jay board president Dave Littler announced during the commissioner's meeting the board has settled on an estimated $3.75 million in capital improvement projects to be completed in 2021.

When Jay County Hospital was integrated into IU Health Jay in 2018, the agreement between the two entities included $5 million from IU Health for a capital improvement fund for the facility. That money was placed under control of the IU Health Jay Board.

Littler’s presentation at Monday’s meeting highlighted plans for some of those funds, including relocating the outpatient physical therapy ($1.26 million), outpatient behavioral health from the former Vormohr Medical Center building ($1.16 million) and cardiac and pulmonary outpatient rehabilitation ($821,100) from satellite buildings to the hospital and expanding the Family First practice ($767,500). Each of those projects is expected to be complete during 2021.

Rather than seeking to spend the remaining portion of the allotment on additional capital projects, the IU Health Jay Board worked with IU Health on a plan to make that money available for future needs by transferring it to The Portland Foundation. The money is to be used “for the purpose of improving the health and well-being of the residents of Jay County … including providing support for programs and activities that support IU Health Jay.”

“Those funds belong to the residents of Jay County, so that is the reason we’re transferring the excess amount to The Portland Foundation,” said Littler.

Doing so required amending the integration agreement, which required approval from Jay County Commissioners. Chuck Huffman, who also sits on the IU Health Jay Board, Chad Aker and Mike Leonhard approved the amendment unanimously. It has already been approved by the IU Health Jay and the IU Health East Central Region boards. It will also require approval from Jay County Council, which meets Jan. 13.

In a press release Monday, IU Health Jay indicated the expansion of Family First would provide space for additional providers “including a nurse practitioner focusing primarily on pre-natal and post-natal care.” The other spaces will be “modernized to allow for the most current and efficient models of care.”

“We think all that aligns well with our future strategy and growth plans,” said IU Health Jay president Jon Vanator in an interview last week. “So we’re happy to be able to use that funding for it.”

“It’s great that some of our off-site services will be relocated to the main hospital building,” added IU Health Jay chief nursing officer Christina Schemenaur in the press release.

Jay County Hospital Board, Jay County Commissioners and Jay County Council approved Jay County Hospital’s integration into IU Health on Nov. 20, 2017, following several years of hefty financial losses. (The facility’s expenses outpaced revenues by nearly $8 million in fiscal year 2017). The integration became official at midnight Feb. 28, 2018.

IU Health Jay’s Board of Directors remained in place to oversee the facility for three years, with that period set to conclude at the end of February. Beginning March 1, the hospital will fall under the jurisdiction of IU Health’s East Central Region Board, which will include two Jay County residents.