After greater than 70 years, the Peoria Metropolis/County Well being Division has a brand new constructing on the horizon. The brand new campus will stand on the identical spot on Sheridan Street and embody extra businesses and organizations.
The county formally broke floor Tuesday on the longer term Peoria County Well being and Human Providers Campus. Sharon Williams, chair of the Peoria County Board well being committee, mentioned the groundbreaking was a number of years within the making.
“At this time might be the work of a couple of yr of analyzing knowledge and varied areas,” mentioned Williams. “And perhaps we checked out 30 completely different areas earlier than we determined that it wanted to stay the place it was.”
Williams mentioned the placement at 2116 N. Sheridan Street offers probably the most comfort for the individuals who often use county well being companies. Based on her, that’s individuals from the 61603, 61604 and 61605 zip codes. The present constructing additionally sits on an simply accessible bus route.
One other benefit of the brand new constructing is a greater diversity of companies. The brand new well being campus, costing greater than $19 million, will embody the Peoria County Coroner’s workplace, Regional Workplace of Training and the Sustainability and Useful resource Conservation Division — along with the well being division. Williams mentioned there are advantages for each group concerned.
“The Regional Workplace of Training was very enthusiastic about this, as a result of she really has been doing plenty of work with the well being division,” mentioned Williams. “So bringing these two teams collectively is admittedly, I feel, necessary.”
Regional Superintendent Elizabeth Crider agreed, saying well being and training are carefully linked.
“Why a regional workplace of training?” requested Crider. “As a result of a wholesome … youngster and household present up in school able to be taught, and lecturers, educators and directors can do their job.”
Williams mentioned the brand new constructing additionally will present some wanted modifications for coroner Jamie Harwood’s present workplace.
“The constructing was simply not designed to be a coroner’s workplace,” she mentioned. “So what we’re designing for him is a state-of-the- artwork coroner’s workplace, so he’ll be capable of serve higher.”
Harwood mentioned he’s additionally excited in regards to the proximity to different group businesses.
“I feel that is simply going to raise what we do,” he mentioned. “Once we discuss evidence-based greatest observe, I feel that is actually going to assist us elevate all the pieces that we do, forensically talking.”
One of many new options is a further post-mortem room, and area for legislation enforcement to be current throughout autopsies. Harwood mentioned it will enable legislation enforcement to work collaboratively with the forensic pathologists.
“That is going to supply them a possibility to see by a glass,” Harwood mentioned. “With the communication in between the glass to have the ability to see what is going on on and discuss with the physician. In order that’s enormous.”
Though the brand new constructing will home extra workers and organizations, Williams mentioned it’s going to really be smaller.
“It’s going to be two flooring,” she mentioned. “However it’ll be significantly smaller.”
The ultimate design continues to be in -progress. The county is working with the Farnsworth Group, River Metropolis Building and GIVSCO Building. Williams mentioned there was a completed design, nevertheless it went over the supposed price range of $19 million. Funding is coming from unspent American Rescue Plan {dollars}, and cash the county already was saving to exchange the roof on the present well being division constructing.
Peoria Metropolis/County Well being Division’s Public Well being Administrator Monica Hendrickson additionally is happy to have a greater facility for his or her sufferers, workers and group companions.
“It is simply plenty of our partnerships,” she mentioned. “However we’re simply now capable of do it nearer collectively.”
For instance, Hendrickson mentioned the well being division commonly coordinates with the workplace of training on psychological well being, emergency preparedness and sexually transmitted an infection training, and additionally work with the coroner’s workplace on dying certificates and knowledge.
Throughout building, Hendrickson mentioned the well being division can be “decentralized,” with workers in workplaces throughout the county.
“We do have areas that we’re renting in addition to partnerships that we’re counting on to actually cowl the gamut,” she mentioned. “We’re very enthusiastic about it.”
Williams mentioned the ultimate design course of needs to be executed someday within the subsequent few weeks. She expects building to start in late 2022/early 2023 and be completed by late 2023.
For extra data on the place to obtain companies from the well being division throughout building, you may go the well being division’s web site right here.
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