New Cass Regional Medical Center Facility
Now Open

We have moved to our new location at 2800 East Rock Haven Road in Harrisonville! Take a photo tour of our new facility, or see below for a video tour and Frequently Asked Questions regarding the new hospital.



Q. Why did Cass Regional Medical Center build a replacement facility?

A. There are many reasons for this decision, and it was one carefully weighed by the Board of Trustees. An independent consulting firm looked at Cass Regional’s existing facility in the fall of 2005 to evaluate the feasibility and cost of renovation and expansion. Their findings concluded that the cost of building new was nearly equal to what it would cost to renovate and expand our current facility. When one considers the disruptions to operations caused by construction, the inconvenience for patients and visitors, and the fact that even renovated, the infrastructure would still be 45+ years old, the decision became clear that constructing new was best.
 

Q. Where is the new facility located?

A. On an 81-acre campus located at 2800 East Rock Haven Road in Harrisonville, near the US Hwy 71 and MO Hwy 291 interchange.
 

Q. Why did Cass Regional choose that site for its new facility?

A. A Consumer Perception Study that was conducted by an independent firm for Cass Regional showed that nearly 60% of respondents preferred that the hospital locate its new facility along the US Hwy 71 corridor (versus the current site or another location). A Replacement Facility Site Evaluation Study was done in late 2006 and early 2007, which considered six sites along the Hwy 71 corridor in Harrisonville. A number of factors were considered in choosing the best site of the six, including size, flood plain conditions, constructability, access to utilities, road access, visibility from the highway, and zoning.
 

Q. Is the new site within Harrisonville city limits?

A. Yes.
 

Q. What utilities serve the new hospital?

A. Sewer and electrical are provided by the City of Harrisonville, and telephone service is provided by Embarq. Water District No. 9 provides water to the hospital. Cass Regional has been required to contribute to some of the costs associated with providing utilities to this green field site.
 

Q. What about traffic concerns in the area around the new site?

A. Cass Regional knows access is a concern and looks forward to improvements that will be made to the MO Hwy 291/US Hwy 71/Commercial Street interchange through a TDD (transportation development district) that is being created through the City of Harrisonville. 
 
In addition, and as a part of the special use permit on the property, the City of Harrisonville is requiring that a portion of a city collector street (Healing Way) be constructed. Ultimately, this street will connect to what is now Timber Drive and provide a second access point to the campus off of MO Hwy 291. Cass Regional has also purchased traffic light interrupter equipment that will be placed on the traffic signals at MO Hwy 291 and Commercial Street, allowing emergency vehicles the right of way through this intersection.
Lastly, Cass Regional has been working with representatives from Cass County, the Missouri Department of Transportation, MARC and other interested parties in potentially developing exit and entry ramps for the bridge that traverses 71 Highway immediately north of its new site. This would further allow another entry and exit point to the facility and ease traffic concerns at the MO Hwy 291/US Hwy 71/Commercial Street interchange.
 

Q. How much did Cass Regional pay for the land for its new site? And why was so much land purchased?

A. Cass Regional purchased the 81-acre tract for $3.2 million, or approximately $40,000 per acre. Recent land sales for major business developments in Harrisonville have been in the range of $70,000 to $80,000 per acre.
 
In looking at the region’s projected growth and observing other area hospital campuses that have developed over time (e.g., St. Mary’s in Blue Springs, Olathe Medical Center, Liberty Hospital), Cass Regional Medical Center’s leaders felt that the purchase of additional land was prudent to support what might be the need for future healthcare services over time (ex. oncology services, ambulatory surgery, medical office buildings and future inpatient beds).
 

Q. How much did the facility cost?

A. The 138,000-square-foot facility had a construction cost of approximately $41 million. The Board of Trustees of Cass Regional Medical Center established a total building project budget, including equipment, professional fees and services, financing costs, etc., at a maximum of $55 million. In addition, a debt reserve fund was required associated with the revenue bonds issued to support the construction of the new facility. This fund has been established at almost $4 million, resulting in a final project cost of nearly $59 million.
 

Q. How is Cass Regional paying for the new facility?

A. Revenue bonds in the amount of $49,905,000 were issued by Cass County and closed in early November 2007. The ongoing revenues of the hospital are pledged as collateral for the debt. In addition, Cass Regional has committed $5 million from its cash reserves to cover the land purchase and other expenses, such as equipment, consulting, and legal fees associated with the project, and will be funding the $4 million debt reserve fund out of existing cash reserves.
 

Q. Why were voters not required to approve the debt issued by the hospital?

A. Revenue bonds differ from general obligation bonds, and thus a vote of the people is not required. With revenue bonds, the ongoing revenues of the hospital are pledged as collateral for the debt. General obligation bonds typically have a new or reauthorized tax levy attached to them that is pledged as collateral and as a result requires voter approval.
 

Q. Will the construction of the hospital result in an increase in property taxes?

A. No. Cass Regional’s issuing of debt will not impact its current property tax levy.
 

Q. Will the cost of the new facility impact what we pay for healthcare services?

A. No. The financial plan for the new facility, as well as Cass Regional Medical Center’s Certificate of Need Application with the state, indicates that the financing for this project will not require additional charges for services offered beyond its typically annual price increases.
 

Q. What is the size of the new hospital?

A. The new facility has approximately 138,000 square feet, which is more than double the size of its former facility. Since Cass Regional is a critical access hospital, the number of beds in the new facility has not changed. There are 21 medical/surgical beds, 4 intensive care unit beds, and 10 behavioral health unit beds. The increase in square footage has most noticeably impacted Cass Regional’s outpatient services area, with increased space for our Specialists Clinic and outpatient procedures, an expanded number of Emergency Department beds (moving from 5 beds to 11 beds) and increased surgical capacity.
 
Should growth within the service area and increased demand for services require Cass Regional to reassess its bed complement, the facility will have to drop its critical access status, which would have to be studied and submitted as one of its bond covenants. The current design of the facility does take into consideration the ability to add 2 additional ICU beds, expand the Medical/Surgical unit to 28 to 32 beds, add a LDRP (labor, delivery, recovery, and post-partum) unit, and a second bed tower.
 

Q. Are all inpatient rooms at the hospital private? Will insurance pay for a private room?

A. Yes. All rooms, with the exception of 3 of our Behavioral Health Unit rooms, are private. The new patient rooms are larger, and are designed with an area especially for family members and other visitors. Because private patient rooms are now the architectural standard for hospitals, and one base room rate is charged by Cass Regional, the hospital will accept what the insurance plan pays.
 

Q. How many floors does the new hospital have?

A. The new hospital has a partial lower level, a main floor, and a second floor. The lower level houses non-clinical/support departments (ex. Information Systems, Materials Management, Plant Operations, etc). The first floor houses Patient Access (admitting and scheduling), Diabetes Education, rehabilitation services (including Speech Therapy, Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, and Physical and Occupational Therapy), the Specialists Clinic, Surgery, the Emergency Department, Laboratory, Medical Imaging, Respiratory Therapy, the Cafeteria, the Gift Shop, and administrative offices. The second floor houses the Medical/Surgical Unit, ICU, Pharmacy, Behavioral Health Unit (BHU), Sleep Lab, Nursing Administration and the Chapel.
 

Q. Is a medical office building being considered for the new hospital campus?

A. Yes. A private development group will open a medical office building on the Cass Regional campus in 2010. The building will be located on the west side of the campus, and will connect to the medical center via an enclosed walkway near the Emergency Department. Current planned tenants of this building include Harrisonville Family Medicine; Gillen Pharmacy; Bone and Joint Specialists, PC; Harrisonville Medical Clinic; Cass Regional General Surgery Clinic; and HCA Midwest Specialty Clinic.
 

Q. Who owns Cass Regional Medical Center?

A. The hospital continues to be owned by Cass County at its new location. Thirty-four acres of the new hospital site are titled in the name of Cass County, and that is the tract on which the hospital has been constructed. The remaining 47+ acres are titled in the name of Cass Medical Center Improvement Corporation, a not-for-profit corporation whose sole purpose is to benefit Cass Regional Medical Center.
 

Q. Who controls Cass Regional Medical Center?

A. The hospital is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees who are elected by the citizens of Cass County. One trustee seat is up for election in April each year. The current trustees are Linda Sherman (Chairperson), Katy Crabtree (Vice-Chairperson), Steve Croy (Treasurer), Bryan Mallory (Secretary), and Carole Arnold (Assistant Secretary).
 

Q. What is HCA’s role at Cass Regional Medical Center?

A. Cass Regional’s Board of Trustees has ultimate authority and accountability over the operations of Cass Regional Medical Center. Several years ago, the Board of Trustees established a management agreement with Health Midwest, which was purchased in 2003 by HCA. This agreement was assumed by HCA as part of the sales transaction, and the management agreement has since been renegotiated and renewed. As part of the agreement, HCA, through its Midwest Division, provides, through a salary and benefit pass-through arrangement, the senior leadership team—the CEO, CFO, and CNO (Chief Nursing Officer)—for the hospital. Although these individuals are paid by HCA, they are accountable to the Board of Trustees, which has responsibility for their selection and ongoing service within these leadership roles. Further, Cass Regional benefits from this agreement through being able to participate in HCA’s managed care plans, and thus is able to accept most health insurances. Cass Regional Medical Center also participates in HCA’s purchasing group, which results in better pricing for many supplies the hospital uses.
 

Q. What will happen to the former facility that has been vacated by the hospital?

A. The hospital continues to discuss options with various entities. The Cass County Commissioners have also expressed interest in the facility for use for county offices and consolidation of county operations, which are presently located in a number of buildings within the city of Harrisonville.