Hazlett Visits Syracuse Hospital Construction Site

SYRACUSE – Anne Hazlett, who leads the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development, toured the hospital construction site at Syracuse Friday calling rural America a community of opportunity. Hazlett: “We at USDA are focused on rural prosperity and quality of life is an important component of that and health care is very important in the quality of life in a community, so I got to come out today and see a very important project.” USDA provided $27 million in loans for the $29.5 million project, that is now about 30 percent complete. Hazlett said it will increase modern health care access to the region. Hazlett: “I think investments like what we saw today certainly ensure that it is a place of prosperity for future generations.” Hospital CEO Mike Harvey pointed out highlights of the construction, including growth of the emergency department, larger operating room and added post-op space. Harvey: “The message we wanted to convey is just the value that they are getting for their investment that they are making in rural America. I don’t know that we would have had the opportunity to do something like this without getting that low-interest financing from the USDA.” He said the assistant secretary’s visit shows the USDA’s interest in rural health care. Harvey:  “Without that health care, those rural residents are having to travel a significant distance for that and sometimes in an emergency situation they can’t get to that help in time, which results in a disaster for those citizens, so, just being able to invest in health care in rural communities is, I think, important to them.” Hazlett said America still has work ahead to achieve rural prosperity. Hazlett: “Getting a qualified workforce to want to come and live in these places is so important. At the same time, health care is often an important driver in the local economy, so those pieces are interconnected.” Syracuse hospital staff told Hazlett that Syracuse’s proximity to Lincoln has helped it avoid staff recruiting struggles that trouble more remote communities. The new hospital is projected to open next fall.    
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