New Lake Chelan Hospital Construction Delayed

The new Lake Chelan Community Hospital is unlikely by 2021 after the hospital board voted Tuesday to delay construction by at least six months.

Communications and Outreach Manager Agustin Benegas said the hospital board will take the time to focus on the financial end of the project. He stated that they have the funds to build the facility, but that's not their only cost.

"With the drop in patient volumes over the last several years, a lower reimbursement of funds, and then some positions that left in 2018 causing a further drop in patient volumes, the new hospital wouldn't have the funds to pay the mortgage on the new building," said Benegas.

The hospital board is considering bringing in an outside firm to help generate more revenue.

The new hospital was initially approved by voters in 2017. Construction is expected to be an 18 month process.