HONESDALE, PA — At a September 26 conditional-use hearing before the Honesdale Borough Council, Wayne Memorial Hospital (WMH) representatives told the council why a proposed addition of 50 private patient rooms is needed and how it could benefit hospital, patients and borough alike.

The proposed third-floor expansion would increase the hospital’s existing 432-acre footprint by 20,000 square feet. In addition to new patient rooms, parking would be increased to 520 spaces, 341 of which will be offsite. A canopy would provide cover for patient pick-up/drop-off outside one common entrance to all hospital departments.

Infection control dictates the need for private rooms, now required by the State of Pennsylvania for all newly constructed patient rooms, said WMH Director of Finance Michael Clifford. But it is not the only reason.

According to Clifford, 45% of the hospital’s total patient population has Medicare as its primary healthcare insurance. Noting that Medicare hospital payments are value based, Clifford said that means patient satisfaction (as measured by discharge surveys) determines, at least in part, how much the hospital will be reimbursed for care of Medicare patients.

Because WMH has not consistently met Medicare standards for acceptable noise levels in patient areas, Medicare payment penalties have resulted. Private rooms are expected to reduce noise in patient areas to Medicare-stipulated levels. Clifford added that, although WMH has not recently faced Medicare penalties for hospital-acquired infection, conformance with the state’s best practices policy of private rooms will guard against it.

Clifford also noted that expansion will increase the hospital’s contribution to borough commerce. In addition to the borough’s $80,000 annual revenue from the hospital, the hospital’s 600 employees contribute substantial support to borough businesses and nonprofits, he said.

The council is expected to approve or reject the proposed expansion at its October 10 meeting.