UTICA, NY – Officials from the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) are setting in motion the design and construction of the new hospital and have issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to architects, engineers and construction managers.
“We have sent the information to 14 architects, 11 engineers and seven construction management firms, all of which have extensive experience in healthcare projects that are the size, scope and complexity of the proposed MVHS project,” stated Robert C. Scholefield, MS, RN, executive vice president and chief operating officer for MVHS. “We anticipate that this next phase will take several months to finalize as we meet with the companies best suited for this complex and exciting project. More than half the firms we have contacted have offices in New York State. Our goal throughout the project is to use, whenever possible, resources from our region. Several of the companies we have spoken with make it a practice to subcontract with local companies.”
As the vetting process is taking place on the design, build and construction management of the new hospital, the appraisal teams are scheduled to begin their work in late September. The appraisal companies have sent letters to the downtown property owners and are working with Mohawk Valley EDGE to begin the valuation process, which is anticipated to take between 60 and 90 days.
“It’s very important to us to continue to move forward with the project,” noted Scott H. Perra, FACHE, president/CEO of MVHS. “We continue to work with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and Governor Cuomo’s office on the final disposition of the $300 million designated for the project. Officials in Albany tell us they are getting close to their final recommendation and the requirements that we will need to meet. It has taken longer than we anticipated but this is a unique ‘gift’ that we are receiving and one that does not have precedence. This is a new process for everyone.”
The new hospital will be constructed on approximately 25 acres in the City of Utica and is anticipated to help spur economic development not only in downtown Utica, but in the region, as well. Recently, officials from MVHS visited Orange Regional Medical Center in Middletown, New York. Orange Regional is a new hospital that opened in August 2011, the result of a three-hospital merger.
“The trip to Orange Regional was very enlightening,” stated Perra. “They were very receptive to our questions and provided great suggestions for us as we begin our planning. One thing they did not anticipate was the increased use of their Emergency Services. They found with a new hospital that more people traveled to come to the new facility. Even as they opened their doors, they were preparing for an expansion of the Emergency Department. That was helpful advice to us as we begin to look at the surrounding area, the patients we currently serve and potential patients.”
“Even with all of this activity, we want to remind our community that there are still multiple steps in the approval process,” cautioned Perra. “We have to finalize the plan with the NYSDOH on securing the $300 million and also finalize the process they wants us to follow to complete and file a Certificate of Need (CON). Any offers made to property owners will be contingent on receiving the CON from New York State. We can’t move forward without that.”
With the delays from NYSDOH in the disposition of the $300 million, MVHS officials have also adjusted the estimated timeline to make purchase offers to property owners; it may be late 2017, with construction to begin in the second quarter of 2018.
Media Contact
Erin Gigliotti
Manager/Media Specialist
Communications & Marketing
Mohawk Valley Health System
315-624-5581
egigliot@mvhealthsystem.org