Seneca Healthcare District, in cooperation with Seneca Healthcare Foundation, is constructing a new hospital in Chester. The newly named Lake Almanor Community Hospital will be located on a 10-acre parcel northeast of the existing Seneca Hospital and Lake Almanor Community Clinic. The dirt work and grading were completed in 2024, and construction of the building is planned for this spring.
After construction and transfer of operations, staff will run numerous training scenarios to prepare for the first patient, expected in 2027. The hospital will serve anyone who needs care in the Lake Almanor basin. The service area extends to Greenville, Mineral and Westwood. Like Seneca Hospital before it, the new Lake Almanor Community Hospital will be the only critical-access hospital within 35 miles of Chester.
A major undertaking
The new building is necessitated in part by a 1996 state law, SB 1953, which requires all hospitals to meet earthquake safety standards by 2030. Built in 1954, Seneca Hospital cannot be retrofitted to meet these standards. Additionally, Seneca has limited space and structural limitations, which require staff to execute extra steps in order to provide medical care.
The community has expressed strong support for the new hospital project, according to Seneca Healthcare District Chief Financial Officer Steve Boline. A passionate advocate for rural healthcare, Boline has worked in health financing for 30 years, mostly in rural hospitals in Nevada. He has been with Seneca in Chester for seven years. 79% of voters in the community approved a 2022 bond of $42 million to build this new hospital, Boline said.
The remainder of the $83 million cost will be financed by philanthropic giving and a certificate of participation from the United States Department of Agriculture. A COP is a type of revenue bond paid from the proceeds of operation, rather than taxes or any other funding source. Once the building is complete, the USDA will pay off the construction loans, held by Western Alliance Bank. The hospital will then pay off the COP over 37 years. Boline said the new build will bring greater economic vitality to Lake Almanor basin and provide crucial services for an aging population
“It is rare to build a new hospital,” said Chief Executive Officer Shawn McKenzie. Many critical access hospitals are closing due to low capital and strained facilities, he said.
McKenzie is a member of the Chester High School class of 1979. He joined the military and trained in radiology before moving into corporate medicine at Adventist Health. McKenzie has been back in the area for five years, and his goal is to bring Seneca to greatness.
“It typically takes from six to 10 years to build a hospital in California.” He said. The Seneca Healthcare District’s project has been underway for several years.
The district first crafted a strategic plan to purchase the 10-acre property from Collins Pine and fulfill the regulatory requirements to build on raw land. Preparation and zoning took a year and a half, and was completed simultaneously with a two-and-a-half year design process. The district also has to follow the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, which require consideration during land development. The process was delayed after biologists found a great blue heron nest during the required surveys. The heron is a protected species. The team waited six months for the nestlings to fledge. This will be memorialized by the new facility’s Blue Heron Café, which will be open to staff and visitors.
A thoughtful design
The build plan is now in its third iteration, after being redesigned to maximize results and stay within the budget, said McKenzie.
Judy Cline, chief nursing officer, explained that each department head was invited to share ideas and concerns at planning meetings. Cline has worked in emergency trauma services for over 35 years, helping to save the lives of many people. In her career as a flight nurse, she saw much of California by helicopter and wanted to retire near Lake Almanor. After moving to the community, she checked Seneca’s job board, was hired and has held her position since October 2021. She is glad for the opportunity to work at a small hospital with less bureaucracy and greater agility. Cline says this allows for same-day problem solving and continuous improvement within the hospital.
Consultation with department heads provides a good example: Feedback resulted in features that reflect Chester’s needs. Currently, patients who are transported to Chester by helicopter must travel by ambulance from Rogers Field, costing minutes that may be critical in an emergency. The new hospital will have a landing pad large enough to accommodate a National Guard Blackhawk helicopter. Plans feature a heated landing pad and sidewalk to prevent slips in winter, and a specialized gurney for patient transport. The hospital staff will receive helicopter safety training.
“This is the hospital I would take my grandchildren to if they needed care during a visit.”
Judy Cline, chief nursing officer
Building a new facility from the ground up provides an opportunity for thoughtful planning that takes Chester’s needs into account and maximizes workflow efficiency, hospitably accommodate visiting families and prioritize patient comfort, said Cline. There is even space for neighbors in need to continue to access heat and air conditioning, charge a cell phone or enjoy a simple cup of coffee. The design also takes infection prevention into account, with separate entryways for lab patients and emergency room patients, hand washing stations and touchless faucets. Some doors will be automatic, while others use bacteriostatic door handles; restricted areas will open for badges, rather than key pads.
“This is the hospital I would take my grandchildren to if they needed care during a visit,” Cline said. The layout of the building includes several expansion points to allow for future additions.
A broader range of services
The new complex totals about 43,000 square feet, including both the 28,000 square foot hospital and the 15,000 square foot nursing home, Boline said. The larger facility will allow for increased emergency and operating services, long-term care residents and inpatient acute care. Modern infrastructure — such as laminar air flow with HEPA filters, required for orthopedic implant procedures — will also allow expanded services.
The district hopes these healthcare features, combined with the state-of-the art workspaces, will help to attract staff. The new facility will create at least 12 new jobs, including CNA, LVN, health information management, culinary, housekeeping and maintenance positions. Potential employees should be attracted to working in a modernized building that allows them to do their best work with fewer obstacles, said Cline.
Some medical specialty centers, like cancer treatment, kidney dialysis, brain surgery and birthing centers, require a patient volume that cannot be sustained by the Almanor community. Staff will work with all patients in need of specialized care to navigate the medical system. Lake Almanor Community Hospital will offer select obstetrics services, well-mother visits and will be equipped to deliver babies in an emergency. They will work with moms-to-be to build a relationship with a birthing center.
Opportunities for public engagement
As a special healthcare district, Seneca is a public entity and all data not protected for patient privacy is available to the public. Those interested can sign up for the hospital build newsletter, and attend hospital board meetings on the last Thursday of each month. The district also holds regular “Information Station” events for community members to talk to Seneca’s executive team. Upcoming Information Stations are scheduled for 11 a.m. April 7 at Chester Wellness Center, 9 a.m. May 1 at Almanor West Grill and 5 p.m. June 5 at Plumas Pines Resort. The public can see models and sample design elements at Seneca Health Foundation at 317 Main St. in Chester. The office is open Tuesday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.