The Newton City Council unanimously approved a $50,000 contribution to the renovation of MercyOne Newton Medical Center’s Emergency Department last night. The hospital has plans for a $5 million upgrade of the Emergency Department, which was built in 1971 and last renovated in 1994. MercyOne Newton Medical Center Chief Operating Officer Chad Kelly told the City Council the emergency department has several design and infrastructure limitations. 

“This project will expand the rooms to about double in size, which will allow Newton Fire and EMS and the other county EMS crews to actually get their stretchers inside the rooms. To not have to bring a patient into the hallway to perform a code on them while they are having a heart attack. To have negative pressure inside the department and not have to intubate COVID-19 patients in the ambulance garage for the next pandemic.”

The $50,000 contribution approved by the Newton City Council last night will come from the North Central Urban Renewal Area fund. MercyOne Newton is the sole emergency care provider in Jasper County, and takes in over 10,000 patient visits annually.