Conway Medical Center closing leaves host of unanswered questions
My wife and I are among the members of the Wellness Center at Conway Medical Center who are disappointed and angry about the planned closing on July 31.
Members received a letter from the center’s director. The only information provided was that CMC needed space for new operating rooms.
In a story in the Sun News on February 19, a hospital spokesperson indicated that a factor in the decision was the number of other fitness centers in an 8-mile radius. Information provided by CMC indicates only one much closer than 7 or so miles. Who is going to travel 7 miles several times a week to a fitness facility? That person also indicated that only 5 or 6 employees would be affected. The Wellness Center promotes that it is staffed more than 80 hours a week. I believe that the number of employees facing unemployment is more than 20.
While everyone understands the need for two additional operating rooms, it makes no sense that this should result in the closing of the 1400 member center, which includes many seniors. There are many questions regarding this decision.
The Wellness Center is a large facility containing a fitness area with a 1/16 mile two-lane track and pool, as well as smaller areas used for physical therapy and cardiac rehab. Many of the cardiac rehab patients use the fitness area and track. I had heart bypass surgery a number of years ago and believe the center is important to my health. I am sure many others have similar stories.
Many hospital employees use the center. I have heard that the hospital will retain a fitness area for them. Will this be in the current location? Also, it seems that there is much underutilized space in the building. Could space be rearranged in a way to meet the needs of all?
Are other facilities changes anticipated? Just how much space is needed for the laundry facility and warehouse?
The spokesperson also implied that buying land and building would be too cumbersome. But if I recall correctly, CMC is buying property near the intersection of River Oaks Drive and Carolina Forest Boulevard for doctors’ offices. Could space be added there to relieve the space crunch at the hospital?
CMC owns several buildings along Singleton Ridge Road. Is there any space in any of them?
All hospitals have long-range facilities plans. Did the CMC long-range plan include closing the center from the beginning?
Were those who donated for the construction of the center told it might one day become a laundry facility?
My wife and I donate to the CMC Foundation, as I am sure many other members do. Has CMC considered the possibility that future donations might be reduced, or hospital goodwill lost?
Many people feel strongly about this matter. Comments have been made that some people will have nothing to do with CMC in the future if the Wellness Center closes.
Perhaps keeping the center open could be a rallying cry for new donations.
What are the administrative and financial issues at the center? The February 19 story indicated that the center does not make a profit even though it has among the highest rates in the area. Since the building was funded by donations and there are no property taxes, why doesn’t it make a profit? Is it supposed to make a profit?
It is obvious that there is a high overhead in operating the pool. The pool is an important health component, but could changes be made to reduce the costs?
As a last resort, could closing the pool permit the fitness area to remain open?
As a community non-profit hospital. I am asking that CMC take a closer look at this decision and be more transparent about the reasons that caused it to be made.
The writer lives in Conway.
This story was originally published April 6, 2015 at 12:27 PM with the headline "Conway Medical Center closing leaves host of unanswered questions."