This story has been updated to reflect the correct cost of the project and the bond proposal.

A new initiative from Pullman Regional Hospital would bring electronic medical records and expand on medical resources to the community.

The Next Era of Excellence bond proposal will be on the ballot for the Whitman County special election April 23.

The boundaries of the hospital district are within the city so registered Pullman voters will be able to vote on this initiative.

Scott Adams, Pullman Regional Hospital CEO, said the initiative will help plan for a growing community by adding a pavilion to the hospital for more clinical services, doctor’s offices and updated electronic medical records.

Adams said the addition to the hospital will include a Center for Women’s and Children’s Health.

“We offer a lot of women’s and children’s services now, but this will be a better organized access to it,” he said. “It will be more integrated.”

He said the hospital also hopes to bring an improved patient experience and one-stop care.

“People who get their care all in one stop are typically more compliant,” said Megan Guido, PRH chief marketing and community relations officer. “[They are] more likely to follow through with what their doctor is prescribing.”

There will be a medical residency program for training future physicians, he said, as well as physician offices such as Palouse Pediatrics, Pullman OB/GYN, Behavioral Health and Palouse Pulmonology & Sleep Medicine.

“When [patients] come for their annual physical or for a checkup for their child, it will all be coordinated so that they can see the doctor and get the labs and see a counselor if they need to all at the same time,” Adams said.

This bond proposal will bring a new information technology system, he said, which will provide electronic medical records containing patient’s health information and history.

Adams said the project will cost an estimated $40 million.

There are four parts to this initiative, he said, with the costliest part being the new pavilion at $20 million. The new information technology system for electronic medical records will cost $10 million.

Another $5 million will be spent on making upgrades and expansions to hospital-specific services. The last $5 million will be for upgrading medical technology.

“$29 million is what is proposed in the bond issue,” Adams said. “That’s about 99 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value for the taxpayer.”

He said the hospital will supplement the remaining $11 million with the help of fundraising through the foundation.