Marengo Memorial Hospital History and Project

Marengo Memorial Hospital is a 25-bed critical access hospital located in the City of Marengo, Iowa County, Iowa. MMH is the only hospital in Iowa County, Iowa. Marengo is a rural community of 2,535 residents and Iowa County has 15,671 residents per the 2000 census. Marengo sits adjacent to the Iowa River and is approximately 35 minutes from both Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Iowa City, Iowa.

The Hospital was established under Chapter 37 of the Code of Iowa and opened its doors in May 1956. The original hospital structure had a total square footage of 11,720 square feet. Between 1956 and 1971, the patient ward was remodeled. The Hospital also built an activity room addition around 1962 off the west wing of the original building. The activity room addition measured approximately 600 square feet.

In 1971, the Hospital undertook a major expansion and remodeling project that included the addition of 5,125 square feet. Renovation included the nurse’s station, pharmacy, OB ward, relocating lab, clean and soiled utilities rooms, and a new emergency entrance canopy. Another addition was built off the east facade in 1975 which added a new room for physical therapy, a large storage area and an auxiliary room. The 1975 addition measured 2,628 square feet.

The last major construction project at the Hospital occurred in 1977. The 1977 addition primarily involved expansion of the administrative suite and main lobby. At that time the existing public restroom off the larger lobby was made handicap accessible. The total floor area built in 1977 measures 1,422 square feet, bringing the total current square footage of the Hospital to 21,495 square feet.

The 2004-2005 Project:

Marengo Memorial Hospital is completing a project to expand, renovate and upgrade the existing hospital facility. As a critical access hospital, it will continue to have 25 beds and provide inpatient services at 4 levels of care. acute, observation, skilled nursing, and extended care.

The expansion program consists of constructing approximately 27,200 additional square feet onto the existing hospital of 21,495 square feet and renovation of approximately 4,800 square feet of existing space.

The new construction has repositioned the main entrance to the east side of the Hospital from the south side. The main entrance has an overhead canopy and there will be close-in parking.

Fifteen private rooms and 5 semi-private rooms have been added. All have private bathrooms with showers. The new emergency department has 3 treatment rooms. Separate covered entrances for emergency walk-in patients and for patients arriving by ambulance have been added. The imaging department has new X-ray equipment and computerized tomography (CT). Access to the whole imaging department as well as mobile diagnostics such as magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound have been improved.

A surgical suite will be constructed with 1 operating room, 1 minor/endoscopy room, and prep/hold/recovery bays for inpatient and outpatient procedures. Early 2006 general surgeries as well as eye surgeries will be available.

Distinct space has been provided for outpatient specialty clinics. There will be space for 2 specialty clinics to see patients concurrently allowing additional specialties such as otolaryngology, gastroenterology, general surgery, urology, and oncology, to join existing clinics in cardiology, dermatology, audiology, orthopedics, and podiatry.

A 6-bed dialysis space has been built for a future service. A campaign for funding the equipment is currently underway.

The new construction will include private registration positions, laboratory and specimen collection areas, respite services, a decontamination shower, and a family consultation room.

The new construction will allow for patient privacy and staff efficiency. All new construction and remodeled areas will be ADA compliant. The renovated areas will improve patient accessibility. Enlarged spaces are provided for combined physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech rehabilitation. Located in the rehabilitation department, there will be an activities-of-daily-living area that will include a kitchen and bath, where patients can be evaluated for potential to return to independent living. The pharmacy will be enlarged. The new nurses’ station will have line-of-sight visibility of the emergency walk-in entrance. A 24-hour snack lounge for visitors will also be added. The existing roof is to be replaced and the HVAC system will be upgraded to accommodate the existing facility and new construction.

The exterior of the new additions will match the brick of the existing facility. The construction also included the creation of a new parking lot. The renovation and construction also provides for various department relocations and expansions.