It\u2019s a perfect time for William \u201cPat\u201d Patton to reflect on the state of Allen County Regional Hospital.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just over a year ago, Patton was named administrator<\/a> of both Allen County Regional Hospital and Anderson County Hospital in Garnett. He\u2019s seen enough to know what Allen County Regional does well, and how it can improve.<\/p>\n But there\u2019s another reason to examine our local hospital. In a month, voters will decide whether to extend a quarter-cent sales tax<\/a> used to support Allen County Regional Hospital. In place since 2010, the sales tax comes before voters for renewal every five years.<\/p>\n The Register will host a community conversation on the subject Thursday, Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Dr. John Silas Bass North Community Center. Patton will be a panelist in the discussion. The public is invited.<\/p>\n Funds from the sales tax do not go to Saint Luke\u2019s Health System<\/a>, which leases the hospital from Allen County. Instead, the hospital\u2019s facilities board oversees improvements and is responsible for allocating funds. (A key part of the lease agreement<\/a>, approved in 2020, was that Saint Luke\u2019s agreed to pay about $2 million in annual bond payments used to build the hospital, removing that from property taxes.)<\/p>\n Patton sees a strong case for voters\u2019 approval of the sales tax\u2019s renewal. \u201cBoth our facilities board and our hospital operations board are very involved and push us in the right directions,\u201d Patton said. \u201cStewardship of the money is at a very high level. Our community members and the leadership at Saint Luke\u2019s are equally thoughtful on how to use funds. We\u2019re always asking, \u2018How do we do this in the best way?\u2019 They don\u2019t spend money without a lot of thought. It\u2019s managed very professionally.\u201d<\/p>\n Saint Luke\u2019s is fulfilling its part of the bargain in other ways, too, noted Patton. \u201cI think it\u2019s important for people to understand there\u2019s a lot of capital that Saint Luke\u2019s spends here internally. It\u2019s truly a partnership.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n