 The
original building was constructed in 1930 and was utilized as
the County Infirmary, which was formerly known as the "poor
farm", an image that the facility has worked hard to change.
At that time, it was solely a county funded operation and was,
and still is, a functional program of the Human Services Agency.
It's original purpose was to provide food and shelter for the
transients and the indigent, and at the same time, have them
attend to chores in and around the premises. At that time
it was supervised by a superintendent and a matron under the
jurisdiction of what was then known as the Welfare Board.
As time went on, the residents of the Infirmary began to need
medical and nursing care. The need for medical and nursing
care was beginning to increase as persons began to add years
to their lives. The Infirmary was then beginning to be
called Iron County Hospital, because of the increase in persons
requiring long term nursing care. It
was in 1957 that the language in Act 280, the Social Welfare
Act, was amended to include Medical Care Facility. Since
the Iron county Hospital could no longer retain the name "hospital",
because of the definition of "hospital" under Act 139, the institution
became known as the Iron County Medical Care Facility, with
standards and regulations written and applied as written by
the State Department of Social Services (now known as Department
of Human Services Board). The establishment of the Iron
County Medical Care Facility was to provide individualized medical
care, treatment, and supervision for those elderly chronically
ill, or disabled persons requiring services of lesser intensity
than those provided in hospitals but unavailable elsewhere.
As
a publicly supported facility the distinguishing emphasis from
it's beginning was SERVICE to the POOR or Medically INDIGENT.
Thus, with the amendment to Act 280, was the beginning of some
drastic changes in the Medical Care Facilities throughout the
State. With the enactment into law of the Medicare and
Medicaid Programs in July, 1966, the old structure no longer
met the building codes in order to be certified under the Medicare
and Medicaid Program.
In
the early 1970's, the citizens of Iron County were asked to
vote on a millage levy as proposed by the Iron County Board
of Commissioners by which tax levies would be used to construct
a new Medical Care Facility. This tax levy was affirmatively
voted. Residents were transferred to the new facility
in 1976 and the old structure, except for the 3 story section
which had been an addition to the old structure in 1957, was
demolished.
The
Iron County Department of Human Services Board is the governing
body of the Iron County Medical Care Facility. Under the
Social Welfare Public Act. No. 280, Section 400.58 and as per
Act No. 125 of P.A. 1954 which is legislation authorizing county
Medical Care Facilities, the county Department of Human Services
Board is authorized, with the approval of the Board of Commissioners,
to supervise and be responsible for the operation of the County
Medical Care Facility. The Iron County Department of Human
Services Board consists of 3 members (2 appointed by the County
Board of Commissioners and 1 appointed by the State Department
of Human Services). The board provides local control of
the quality and cost of services provided to it's citizens.
As a local body the Department of Human Services Board can address
the unique health care needs of it's community, tailoring services
to match needs. In the rapidly changing health care systems
of today, they are uniquely positioned to serve the interests
of the local population in a caring sensitive manner.
As
needs became apparent, the Facility has worked diligently to
provide it's residents with the best possible environment.
Improvements and life enhancing projects or additions are on-going
at the facility. Enhancement at the Facility took place in 1994
when they broke ground to build a 20 bed addition. At
this time, the Facility undertook a 2.2+ million dollar expansion
and renovation project. Taking almost two years to complete,
the facility was given a total "face-lift". In addition
to improving the existing building, an additional dining area
and new diversional area was added at the end of the newly constructed
wing. An existing wing was taken and made into a secure
Dementia Unit called the "Special Needs Unit". The wing
designated as the Special Needs Unit is a secure wing with its
own dining/social area added at the end of it. In the
fall of 1997 an outdoor fenced in area with a gazebo was added
to further outdoor options of the unit's environment. Most notable
and recent additions are the adding of an Assisted Living Complex,
Victorian Heights, an out-patient physical therapy facility
known as Skyway Rehab and taking over what was previously The
Crystal Manor, nursing home, adding a very large expansion to
the south side of the building to accommodate these residents
and employees. At the time of the new expansion, one of the
biggest changes in addition to the new beautiful accommodations,
a major frame of mind change was also implemented. The facility
changed all reference to wings and locations to neighborhoods
and all larger gathering areas were given names. The goal was
to form a community which followed the goal of becoming more
homelike and shedding the totally medical model that had been
the norm for nursing homes in the past.
In
Summary, The Iron County Medical Care Facility provides to it's
people a needed service.We fill the gap in the health care system
and insure access to long-term care. We provide for local control
of quality with an infusion of Federal and State funds. The
Facility does not provide bargain basement care, we provide
value for cost.
We
have and will continue to be devoted to the care of residents
needing long-term skilled nursing and medical care, including
restorative related medical services, and /or special therapeutic
services to the citizens of Iron County who are chronically
ill and/or disabled.
We
are honored to be able to serve the community of Iron County
with a facility that they can be proud of.
Helpful
Links:
Social
Security Online
Medicare
Consumer Information
Medicaid
Long Term Care Services
National
Institute on Aging
Healthcare
Financing Administration
Long
Term Care Insurance Information
|