April 1, 2010 – 29 members and guests attended a presentation by our own Kendra Aucker.  She brought Stacie Gaul, an accountant working with Kendra on Evangelical Hospital’s expansion project.  Evan had been evaluating their future needs but economic conditions caused them to scale down some of their initial goals.  Two weeks ago they broke ground on a $32 million expansion and renovation project. $10 million of that figure will be for equipment.  They’ll be adding 8 operating rooms and renovating others (some built in 1972).  They’re creating a cardio-vascular center.  They’ll be doing interventional cardiac work and partnering with Geisinger where the more invasive surgeries will be performed.  The main hospital entrance will eventually be relocated to where Radiology is now, on the west side.   A net of 30 new parking spaces will be created after moving and reconfiguring lots.  The new construction is estimated to be completed in Jan 2012 with the renovations completed by Oct of that year.  $7.5 million should be raised from their capital campaign with the remainder financed.