SIRMC to put Kid Zone at FM

Posted

2022 Child care center will have capacity for 90 children

Dec. 10, 2021, West Burlington, Iowa – In 2022, Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center will build a childcare center on its Fort Madison campus and enlarge the existing facility in West Burlington. Kid Zone is for children of hospital employees. 

“Providing a high-quality, convenient childcare center is a priority on both Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center campuses,” said Matt Wenzel, president and CEO, Great River Health, the hospital’s parent company. “The West Burlington Kid Zone was built in response to employee requests. Besides benefitting our existing employees, having our own childcare center helps in the recruitment of future employees and physicians.” 

The 5,600 square-foot West Burlington Kid Zone opened in 2006. It is licensed for 89 children. The same blueprint will be used for the Fort Madison facility. It will be the first new structure built on the campus since the 2011 addition of the Outpatient Rehabilitation Services Center. 

A 3,381 square-foot addition to Kid Zone in West Burlington will increase capacity to 139 children. 

The total cost of the project will be $2.5 million. The $1.7 million new childcare center in Fort Madison will be funded by the Great River Health Foundation, formerly the FMCH Foundation. The foundation was created in 1995 to fund special projects. Money donated to the foundation before July 1, 2021, is dedicated for use on the Fort Madison campus.  

“We are grateful to the foundation for funding Kid Zone in Fort Madison,” Wenzel said.  

Kid Zone is the only childcare center in southeast Iowa to hold a top five-star rating from the Iowa Department of Human Services’ Quality Rating System (QRS). The five-star rating indicates Kid Zone has made significant steps in meeting key indicators of quality in: 

  • Environment 
  • Family and community partnership 
  • Health and safety 
  • Leadership and administration 
  • Professional development 

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here