Our Need

Correcting the Life Safety Code (LSC) issues, as defined by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service, and mandated by the Illinois Department of Health, and solving space shortages are the primary objectives of the project plans and the “Enhancing Our Tradition of Compassionate Care” Campaign. Life Safety Codes are a set of fire protection requirements designed to provide a reasonable degree of safety for patients in an acute care setting. The LSC, which is revised periodically, is a publication of National Fire Protection Association, which was founded in 1896 to promote the science and improve the methods of fire protection.

The basic requirement for facilities participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs is compliance with the 2000 edition of the LSC. Facilities with waivers of the health occupancy provisions of the LSC or with an acceptable Plan of Correction are considered “in compliance.”

At this point, Mercer County Hospital must move forward with the following mandated changes:

• Fire Detection and Suppression Upgrade
• Air Circulation and Climate Control Improvement
• Complete Replacement of Lined Duct System
• Emergency Power Distribution System

Life Safety Code issues, if not corrected, would void the hospital's accreditation from the State of Illinois, thereby eliminating its qualification for third-party reimbursement. The financial results would be devastating.

Additional space and renovated areas will allow Mercer County Hospital to add the necessary services, and attract and retain the necessary healthcare professionals to generate sufficient revenues to move the facility toward its vision.

In 2007, 86% of MCH's total revenue originated from outpatient services. Outpatient Services has outgrown the existing space. Continued growth of these services and their utilization cannot be supported by the current facility. Meanwhile, the mechanical systems are also at the end of their 25-year lifespan, the configuration of the hospital does not allow for efficient delivery of today's outpatient services, and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, which establish standards for patient privacy, are difficult to meet at the present time.