Published: May 14, 2008 10:00 am         

Editorial: Hospital upgrades a plus

Just in time to spare some patients the drive to Traverse City at nearly $4 a gallon, Kalkaska Memorial Hospital has opened a 12-chair, $1.5 million kidney dialysis center, one of three major upgrades the hospital has taken on in the last year.

The center saves Sam Guy, who recently moved to Kalkaska from Bellaire, three dialysis trips to Traverse City a week; it already has 20 patients.

The hospital expects a 33,000-square-foot outpatient addition to be finished by the end of the year; work will begin in June on a 34-bed assisted living center for seniors.

The work will allow for a mobile MRI, two operating rooms for colonoscopy procedures and eye surgery, and renovations to the radiology department and laboratory. A cardiac rehabilitation center will be added.

This is fine news for Kalkaksa. What's better is that the upgrades have strong support. Voters approved a 1.6-mill levy last year to fund the $22 million in improvements.