SUNNYCREST SANITORIUM

Undated postcard. Photo courtesy: Mike Larkin

SUNNYCREST SANITORIUM. Sunnycrest was opened on August 13, 1921, as a means of treating patients with tuberculosis. (1) Once called "white plague" or "consumption," tuberculosis had afflicted civilization for thousands of years. (2) In 1906 a meeting was held in Dubuque to consider the establishment of a tent colony for patients. This followed the practice of the time of reducing exposure to the rest of the family by having the patient live in a small building or tent in yard where they were treated with better nutrition and rest. (3)

In 1916 informational meetings with local charitable organizations and social clubs led to a public vote to approve a bond issue of $75,000 and a two mill levy for payment of bonds and maintenance of the building. (4)

A twenty-seven acre site on the north end of town was purchased at $100.00 per acre. Prior to the start of construction, observations of similar facilities were made in Davenport, at the Oakdale institution in Iowa City, and at sites in Illinois and Wisconsin. Further work on the institution was halted until the end of WORLD WAR I at the request of the federal government. When work resumed, Anton Zwack was awarded the construction contract for $89,000. In most instances local firms were the low bidders for additional work. Dr. J. C. Painter was placed in charge of the hospital and served in the position for twenty-five years. (5)

In 1928 entertainment included croquet, card games, walks, and motion pictures. Those unable to leave their beds could listen through earphones. Religious services from Catholic and Protestant churches were broadcast weekly. Visitors were welcome three times daily. (6)

Prior to his retirement in 1957, Painter was able to announce the closing of the facility as a tuberculosis sanatorium. Once filled nearly to capacity, Sunnycrest had been nearly empty since WORLD WAR II and the development of better methods to cure the disease. The remaining patients were transferred to Oakdale Sanatorium near Iowa City. (7)

Within two and one-half years of its closing, the facility was reopened as the Dubuque County Nursing Home whose primary responsibility was the care of indigents. Those who could make partial payments were given secondary priority. Private patients were admitted with the understanding that they would move out if room for the other two categories of patients became unavailable. An addition to the facility was constructed in 1968; in 1976 the name of the facility was changed to Sunnycrest Manor. (8)

In 1980, Sunnycrest opened the Sunrise ICF/MR unit becoming one of the first community-based intermediate care facilities for persons with mental retardation. In 2001, Sunnycrest Manor implemented the “Home & Heart” program. The facility became Medicare certified to provide skilled nursing and rehabilitation services in May of 2005. Sunnycrest is also contracted with the Veterans Administration to provide long term care services for eligible veterans. (9)

Care and services provided at Sunnycrest Manor are under the direction of the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors. The Dubuque County Hospital Board of Trustees are elected officials responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of Sunnycrest buildings, grounds and equipment. (10)

On January 27, 2014 the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a contract worth at least $170,000 with Minneapolis-based Health Dimensions Group which would look for cost-saving changes in the operation of Sunnycrest. At the time of the action, the county-owned, long-term care facility required about $3 million in county tax money annually to cover its financial shortfalls. (11)

Undated postcard. Photo courtesy: Mike Larkin

A new federal medication program at Sunnycrest promised up to $600,000 annual savings on prescription drug costs according to an announcement made in January 2015. The 340B drug pricing program provided discounted medications to qualifying facilities that served uninsured and under-insured patients. Drug companies agreed to provide certain medications at a set price with the difference in cost available to those facilities strictly to spend for life-enrichment purposes. County supervisors were also informed that expenses for the current budget year were expected to fall from $10.7 million to $10.3 million. Revenue was expected to increase about $600 to $8.5 million. (12)

In February 2015 the Dubuque County Hospital Board began exploring whether a new facility would be more cost-efficient and serve the needs of the residents better than the present site. The board voted to hire consultant Health Dimensions Group to assist in planning and future facilities needs. HDG had been working at Sunnycrest for above a year to improve operations and staffing. The board of trustees receives about $1 million in taxes annually to oversee maintenance costs for the county-owned long-term care facility with oversight from the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors. (13)

On September 5, 2015 it was announced that Cristine Kirsch, the present administrator of Dubuque's LUTHER MANOR had been chosen to lead Sunnycrest. When she began her work on September 28th, she became the facility's first non-interim leader in nearly twenty months. The former administrator Cathy Hedley resigned in February 2014 during a consultant's review of the facility's operations. Kelly McMahon, an employee of HDG, the county's consulting firm, directed the facility until May. (14)

In July 2016 it was announced that a 32-bed building that would connect to the main facility through a walkway was being planned for Dubuque County’s Sunnycrest Manor care facility. The existing facility in Dubuque currently had 77 skilled-nursing beds and 28 beds for disabled adults. (15)

Based on a future-needs study from consultant Health Dimensions Group, the trustees were interested in adding assisted-living and memory-care services in the new building. While other local care facilities also plan to add memory care services, Sunnycrest would serve indigent county residents. Sunnycrest would need to apply for and receive a certificate of need from the Iowa Department of Public Health for any new services to be offered. The trustees also talked about a “second phase” project that would remodel the second and third floors of the existing facility to make more rooms with a private bathroom. (16)

On April 1, 2016 three managed-care companies took over Iowa's Medicaid program which provided health care for an estimated 560,000 poor and disabled Iowa residents. Delays in Medicaid payments led to cash flow problems in payroll and operating expenses. It was announced in August 2016 that the Dubuque County Board of Supervisors had approved a $1.75 million debt agreement for Sunnycrest to help handle cash flow problems. (17)

---

Source:

1. Kruse, Len. My Old Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa: Center for Dubuque History, Loras College, 2000, p. 56

2. "History of Tuberculosis," News-Medical.net. Online: http://www.news-medical.net/health/History-of-Tuberculosis.aspx

3. Ibid.

4. "Sunnycrest Manor." http://www.dubuquecounty.org/SunnycrestManor/tabid/137/Default.aspx

5. Ibid.

6. "Sunnycrest Has Ideal Location," Telegraph-Herald and Times-Journal, May 8, 1927, p. 7

7. "Sunnycrest Manor."

8. Ibid.

9. Ibid.

10. Yager, Alicia. "Board OKs Deal with Sunnycrest Consultant," Telegraph Herald, January 28, 2014, p. 1

11. "January," Chronology 2014, Telegraph Herald, January 1, 2015, p. 4

12. Yager, Alicia. "Sunnycrest Could See More Savings," Telegraph Herald, January 27, 2015, p. 3A

13. Yager, Alicia. "New Facility for Sunnycrest?" Telegraph Herald, March 4, 2015, p. 3A

14. Jacobsen, Ben. "Sunnycrest Board Hires Administrator," Telegraph Herald, September 5, 2015, p. 3A

15. Yager, Alicia. "Board Explores New, 32-Bed Facility at Sunnycrest Manor in Dubuque," Telegraph Herald, July 23, 2016. Online: http://www.thonline.com/news/dubuque/article_2edef4a1-1c1d-5a19-94da-6c1f8688f8bc.html

16. Ibid.

17. Yager, Alicia. "County OKs Debt Agreement with Sunnycrest," Telegraph Herald, August 23, 2016, p. 3A