After three decades of visualizing and planning, Plumas District Hospital (PDH) officially broke ground Aug. 31 on its new skilled nursing facility in Quincy.
A crowd of PDH employees, community leaders, and Plumas County residents gathered at the construction site — across the street from the hospital at 1065 Bucks Lake Rd. — to witness the “turning of the dirt” ceremony and listen to speakers share the project’s history and vision for its future.
“Hope is rising. We are in a new era.”
Dr. Jeffrey Kepple, former PDH CEO
PDH Chief Executive Officer JoDee Read praised the “unwavering dedication, remarkable skill, and genuine compassion and commitment” that those involved have poured into this project. It will create “an environment where residents will feel safe, respected, and valued,” Read said.
Dr. Jeffrey Kepple, current doctor and former chief executive officer for PDH, spoke about Quincy’s previous skilled nursing facility, Country Villa Healthcare Center, a private facility. He recalled doing his rounds there and said he has “great memories of listening to stories of elderly patients that we want to honor.”
The hospital tried to take Country Villa on as a distinct part facility in 2015, but due to financial constraints and spatial requirements — the facility was too far from the PDH campus — that plan did not work out. The building, at 50 E Central Ave., is now used as student housing for Feather River College.
After three decades and “relentless effort,” Kepple said those with dreams and visions have found a balance with pragmatic considerations to finally realize the skilled nursing facility project. “Hope is rising,” he said. “We are in a new era.”
Maria Gallegos Herrera, California state director for the United States Department of Agriculture, took the podium to speak about how this project aligns with Biden-Harris administration goals to “improve the quality of life in rural communities of America.” In order to create more resilient communities, she said, the administration wants to ensure that everyone has access to healthcare, “regardless of ZIP code,” and that “aging populations can stay in the communities they know and love.”
With oversight from PDH Chief Operating Officer Darren Beatty, the facility will be built by S+B James Construction with plans by HMC Architects. Kasa Healthcare Management will provide construction management. The project is financed by a loan from United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development. To learn more about Plumas District Hospital, visit http://www.pdh.org.
