Frank R. Howard Foundation to Construct First Rural Green Hospital in the United States

May 20, 2008 - PRLog -- Willits, CA, – The new Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital & Healthcare Campus in the community of Willits, California is currently slated to be the first rural green hospital in the United States.  Due to new standards for earthquake safety that were established for all California hospitals via legislation known as SB 1953, it was agreed that retrofitting the current hospital facility would generate too great a disruption of services to allow continuous acute medical care.  In response, The Frank R. Howard Foundation, as owner of the Frank R. Howard Memorial Hospital, and Adventist Health as contractor operator for medical services have decided to build a new hospital and healthcare campus.

The new facility will be built to specifications set by the United States Green Building Council for new construction known as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).  The new hospital will result in a 74,000 square foot two story building as construction will commence in 2008/2009.  Utilizing the services of Marshall Erdman & Associates, the new hospital is designed to meet the basic definition of a green building.  It will be environmentally responsible and a healthy place to receive care and to work.  

The hospital campus includes plans for a 20,000 square foot two story Medical Office Building and Physical Therapy Pool/Office.  A Dormitory has been designed with 15 rooms to house Ambulance Staff, Teachers and other Medical Staff who have the need to spend the night.  An Auditorium that will seat 150 people is proposed as a Teaching Facility.  A Helipad will be functional at the time the hospital is built and is included in the plans.

A Health and Wellness Center with emphasis as a Diabetes Center has been designed with two classrooms and 6 demonstration kitchen stations for teaching food preparation.  Every effort will be made to have this facility up and running by the time the new hospital is ready.  A retired Diabetologist has agreed to come to teach/lecture the community on diabetes and how to live with the disease.  The goal will be to have a wide variety of programs that promote wellness and preventative medicine.  

An additional aspect of this effort’s green commitment is COMMONWEALTH, an eight-acre community garden located on the Healthcare Campus.  The purpose of this garden is to provide organic food for patients and staff, to offer a place for rejuvenation, and to promote educational outreach and health awareness within a hospital setting.

The new hospital will also be used as a magnet for talented medical professionals and business to reinvigorate the local economy.  As an important economic driver in the local community the positive financial implications of this project are significant.  From the direct impact of jobs at the hospital to the ancillary businesses that will be necessary, and, possibly, most important are the talented minds drawn into the community.  The hospital will facilitate this growth, in part, because of planned relationships with both UC Davis Medical Center as well as the Santa Rosa Family Practice Residency Program to have Orthopaedic and Family Practice Residents rotate through Howard Memorial Hospital.  

The Foundation has been raising funds using a combination of local dollars from the community and from other sources.   It is procuring grants and corporate giving programs from the private sector and working with Congressman Mike Thompson for potential earmarks.  “There has been quite a bit of interest expressed about funding the project,” says Foundation President Margie Handley.  “I have been really pleased with the support from the local community which has already generously donated over $7 million.”  

For additional information please contact Ian Fitzpatrick, Fund Development Coordinator, at 707 459-3047 or email Ian@HowardFoundation.org.  You may also visit
http://www.HowardFoundation.org