May 19, 2010

DES MOINES, Iowa (May 19, 2010)  --  The Polk County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to an agreement with Broadlawns Medical Center that assures the hospital of a gift valued at $1 million to fund  four new mental health crisis beds in the new Emergency Department.

"We have enjoyed a long, productive relationship with the Polk County Board of Supervisors," said Jody Jenner, president and CEO of Broadlawns Medical Center. "This is another great example of this collaborative partnership as we improve quality mental health services to our community and modernize the county morgue service." 

The details of the agreement include Polk County forgiving the final three payments on an outstanding Broadlawns general obligation bond.  Polk County also agreed to a 25-year commitment for the Medical Examiner to maintain an onsite office at Broadlawns, have access to the morgue, and use laboratory and x-ray technologies as needed to perform autopsies. 

In exchange for the gift, Broadlawns committed to remodeling existing hospital space for the Medical Examiner's office and building an enclosed and secured entrance for the examiner and staff by the end of 2011. 

Broadlawns Medical Center is composed of:  

• An acute care community hospital serving medical, surgical, mental health and primary care needs
• A 60-member physician practice overseeing numerous specialty clinics and outpatient services
• A Family Medicine Residency Program that graduates physician leaders who today serve in 22 of Iowa’s 99 counties
   

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