Clovis Community Medical Center is growing rapidly with the completion of the new cancer center, plans for a $390 million expansion and now a skilled nursing facility to be built just south of the hospital on Herndon and Coventry avenues.
The planned two-story, $65 million skilled nursing facility is part of Community Medical Centers’ effort to meet the growing demand of skilled nursing beds in the San Joaquin Valley.
According to officials, the project will sit on just under eight acres with a building footprint of 72,300 square feet.
“Over the last decade we’ve seen tremendous growth on our Clovis Community campus in order to meet the healthcare needs of Valley residents,” said Patrick Ramirez, Vice President of Corporate Services at Community Medical Centers. “Our future plans reflect growth over the next few years that will add more beds, parking and services on campus …”
In total, the facility will be made up of 150 beds designed for medically fragile patients who require assistance from nurses and physicians for physical, speech or occupational therapy rehabilitation services. Of the 150 beds, 90 will be used as skilled nursing beds while the remaining 60 will serve as sub-acute beds.
“Skilled nursing beds will serve patients with short term needs. The expected length of stay for these patients is less than 30 days,” said Ramirez. “The sub-acute patients are those who require more care and would anticipate a longer length of stay.”
According to the Office of Statewide Health, Planning and Development (OSHPD), Fresno County has a skilled nursing bed occupancy of 90.4 percent, 4.4 percent greater than the state average.
That number will continue to inflate as Fresno County’s senior population is projected to grow by 30 percent in the next 10 years. At current usage rates, the demand for skilled nursing beds will exceed supply.
In order to provide continuous care to its occupants, Ramirez said the facility “will operate 24 hours a day throughout the year.” Visitors will also have 24-hour access to the facility.
Officials expect to break ground next summer with the facility projected to open in the fall of 2021.