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Hospital Signage - US 20/Dodge Street A .~...~ . . . ~ . CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA MEMORANDUM December 13,2000 TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: Hospital Signage - US 20/Dodge Street In response to a letter from Greater Dubuque Development Corporation Assistant Director Dan McDonald, Public Works Director Mike Koch is recommending that a letter be sent to the Chairperson of the Iowa Department of Transportation Commission requesting modification to the hospital signage on Highway 20. I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request)Ma~or and Clt,~ Council approval. .' ! f / (,/;' i . 1 ',~ I I . i . ,," ...~ :' I / i'Lk ~_" '/;:>1 ...' I/,.-(,/\._ Mtchael C. Van Milligen MCVMljh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel Tim Moerman, Assistant City Manager Michael A. Koch, Public Works Director Dan McDonald, Assistant Director, Greater Dubuque Development Corporation 0 r-. CJ C ~-- CJ =0 r'l c: (' C) II ; L,~ -. ,'J -- q ( .' . ,.~',I ~ - ( " ..... )> -'-n C) iTl -;.~ 0 o' CD '.II E ~ CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA MEMORANDUM December 13, 2000 TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager FROM: Michael A. Koch, Public Works Director 11 ;(cJ,; SUBJECT: Hospital Signage - US 20/Dodge Street INTRODUCTION This is in a response to a letter from Mr. Daniel McDonald, Assistant Director of the Greater Dubuque Development, regarding the existing signage for Mercy and Finley Hospitals along the US 20/Dodge Street Corridor. DISCUSSION The City and lOOT began working on the issues of signage along the planned US 20 corridor several years in advance of the actual construction. There were several meetings with the two hospitals in regard to the type of access to the hospitals, as well as the proposed signage. City staff was in agreement with the hospitals in looking for additional signage to include both names of the hospitals, and to sign both exits at the Hill/Bryant Street and at the Grandview Avenue exits. Even after the US 20 project was completed, the hospitals expressed concerns in regard to the existing signage. The existing signage has been found to be confusing to unfamiliar motorists utilizing Highway 20. There have also been cases where emergency vehicles from surrounding areas have inadvertently wound up at the wrong hospital on an emergency run. The City's latest letter to lOOT requesting improvements to the signage was on March 17, 1998, a copy of which is attached. Attached are also several letters of Mercy Medical Center and the Finley Hospital in support of the improved signage. Despite the City's requests, lOOT denied the City's request on the basis that hospital signs on state highways are intended for motorists who would not be typically familiar with an area, and are seeking emerQency medical services at the nearest hospital. The signs are not intended for advertising, nor for the nor for the benefit of patient visitors. For this reason, only the generic message of "Hospital" is allowed on state highway signs. lOOT's denial stated that the signage along US 20 is consistent with other locations throughout the state, and in their opinion is adequate to meet the needs of the motorists for which the signs are intended. RECOMMENDATION City staff feels that additional signage, including the name of the two hospitals, and signage at both exits for the two hospitals would improve emergency response time as well as improving any confusion that now exists because the two hospitals are in such close proximity to each other along US 20. I would, therefore; recommend that the City Council direct a letter to the chairperson of the Department of Transportation Commission in support of the request to improve the hospital signage along the US 20/Dodge Street Corridor. MAK/vjd AUG-30-00 WED 08:57 AM - ". FAX: PAGE 1 July 26, 2000 Michael C. Van Milllgen CIty Manager CIty of Dubuque 50 West 13th Street Dubuque, IA 52001 Dear Mike: During a recent interview with Daryl Barklow, President a CEO of East Dubuque SaVings Bank, an important issue was brought to my attention. According to Mr. Barklow, slgnage for Dubuque's regional hospitals on u.s. 20/Dodge Street l~ not only confusing to residents from surrounding areas, but a potential safety Issue as well. r;1r. Barklow believes that slgnage for both Mercy HospItal and Rnley Hospital is inadequate. . Mr. Barklow suggests that two (2) signs on the westbound lane and (2) two signs on the eastbound lane be added and placed properly to Inform motorists of the correct exit ramps. ~n particular, Mr. Barklow believes that each sign should not only Indicate "hospital," but the act~al name (Merey or Rnley) as well. In addition, Mr. Barklow beJieves that the signs should be i placed ahead of the existing locations to allow more time for motorists to comprehend the ; information. ! Mr. Barklow believes that because Dubuque Is tDutI!d as a "regional medical center," more \ should be done to eUmlnats confusion for those not famJliar with the area. Mr. Barklow also ! believes that there are potential safety Issues. In fact, Mr. Barklow's mother was recently tak~n to the wrong hospital by someone that was unfamiliar with the area. ' In short, Mr. Barklow believes that "when seconds count" and an emergenc.y room team is : waiting at elther Rnley or Mercy, It would be a shame if a patient was delivered to the wrong; hospltal- As was the case with I1rs mother. ; Thank you for considering Mr. Barklow's request. Please do not hesitate to contact me If I can be of any assistance. Sincerely, Daniel McDonald Assistant DIrector / / Iowa Department of Transportation Dyersville Maintenance Office 14067 Route 136 N. (p.O. Box 325) Dyersville, Iowa 52040 Phone: (319) 875-2375 FAX: (319) 875-2388 May 4, 1998 Ref No. 451 Dubuque County Mr. Mike Koch, Public Works Dir. City of Dubuque 50 West 13th Street Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4845 Dear Mr. Koch: This letter is in response to your 3/17/98 request to modify the hospital signing along U.S. 20 in Dubuque. Hospital signs on state roads are intended for motorists who would not typically be expected to be familiar with the area, and who are seeking emergency medical services at the nearest hospital. For this reason, only the generic message of "hospital" is placed on state highway signs. The signing along U. S. 20 in Dubuque is consistent with the signing at other locations in the state and meets the stated intent for the signing, thus your request to modify the existing signs must be denied. Please call me if you have questions or comments. Sincerely, ax Arthur F. Gourley, P.E. AFG: sib cc: Steve Wilson, ECITC, Cedar Rapids John Sebastian, Engineering Division, Ames l / , .ng Division ,( 13th Street .Jque, Iowa 52001-4864 ,Ice (319) 589-4270 ax (319) 589-4149 DUB~E ~~~. March 17, 1998 Art Gourley, P.E. Resident Maintenance Engineer Iowa Department of Transportation Dyersville Maintenance Residency P.O. Box 325 Dyersville, IA 52045 RE: Additional Hospital Signage along U.S. 20 Dear Art: Ever since the opening of U.S. 20, both Mercy Health Center and the Finley Hospital have been asking for additional signage from U.S. 20 to their institutions. Both ..he City and I.D.O.T. early in the project development worked with these hospitals to establish the distinction between highway hospital signage for "emergency conditions" as opposed to advertising or destination signage for such institutions. Both hospitals continue to recognize that distinction, however, they are pointing out a problem which has erupted over the close proximity of the two exit ramps from U.S. '20. The close proximity is causing confusion among ambulance drivers and other emergency response vehicle operators in not knowing which of the two hospitals they are being directed to by the signage. Enclosed is a March 5, 1998 letter from Mercy Health Center which I believe outlines the problem in substantial detail. There have been actual cases where unfamiliar ambulance drivers have been in radio contact with the emergency rooms of one of the hospitals, only to find themselves having taken the wrong exit from U.S. 20 and therefore winding up at the wrong emergency center which of course was not prepared for the emergency. The City believes there is merit to this scenario, and we have also received similar complaints from the general public. Service People Integrity Responsibility Inn ova tion Teamwork Art Gourley, P.E. March 17, 1998 Page 2 The City concurs that there is a problem with the eXisting signage and there is documentation that such occurrences of ambulance drivers showing up at the wrong hospital. Because of the emergency nature of these situations, I fully support the hospitals' request. Enclosed is a drawing prepared by the City which I feel may correct the existing emergency response problem and provide a distinction between the two hospital exits. I would therefore request your full consideration of this request made on behalf of the general public and the emergency health care providers not totally knowledgeable of the changes which came as a result of the Hill Street and Bryant Street Connectors to U.S.61. Sincerely, 17/ /1/' /1/ /u-/l {-:!L,/ Michael A. Koch Public Works Director MAK/ksa cc: Tim Moerman, Assistant City Manager Bill Schlickman, Traffic Engineering Assistant ;' ..,. ..~ MERCY HIi4LTH CENTER 250 Mercy Drive · Dubuque, Iowa 52001 · 319/589-8000 September 24, 1997 Michael Koch City Engineer City Hall Dubuque, Iowa 52001 Dear Mike: On behalf of Mercy Health Center, I appreciate you and Bill taking the time to meet with Toby Wisecup and Jim Schroeder. As Toby and Jim have conveyed to you, since the completion of the Highway 20/Dodge Street corridor, many people using this route have experienced difficulties finding Mercy. It is important to note that many people who visit or come to Mercy for services are elderly or maybe ill, many are operating under great stress, and many of our rural ambulance services volunteers are also unfamiliar with our campus. For many this is just a matter of inconvenience, but for others it can be catastrophic, especially for those requiring a level of service only we provide. We have taken measures of our own to improve signage and to educate people on how to get to Mercy, but we need additional help. We suggest that directional signage identifying Mercy be installed east and west of the Hill/Bryant Exit. In addition, directional Hospital signage on the Hill/Bryant Exit ramp and corrected directional Hospital signage on the Hill Street Exit would be very helpful to those trying to find our campus. Mercy appreciates your consideration of this effort to improve the safety and convenience of the community we are all committed to serve. Sincerely, /~~ Sister Helen Huewe, O.S.F. President/CEO l~ d~ . \)~O MERCY HIi4LTH CENTER 250 Mercy Drive · Dubuque, Iowa 52001 · 319/589-8000 March 5, 1998 Michael Koch, City Engineer City Hall Dubuque, Iowa 52001 Dear Mr. Koch, I want to thank you for your willingness to once again review the issue of signage to the Dubuque hospitals from Highway 20/Dodge Street. Currently signs that say only "hospital" are directing eastbound motorists to The Finley Hospital and westbound motorists to Mercy Health Center. Dubuque has a unique situation with its two hospitals only a few blocks apart and access to each just one exit apart on Dodge Street. This creates problems for people trying to get to each hospital. Most ambulance drivers, including those for the rural Emergency Medical services, are now familiar with the exits. However with volunteers staffing many of the services in our rural communities, staff turnover occasionally results in unfamiliar drivers. Also as a regional health care center, Mercy regularly receives patient transfers from a large outlying area. Ambulance drivers have reported their frustrations with signage and difficulty reaching Mercy. Delays could be detrimental to outcomes for critical patients. Family members often come to the hospital in their own vehicles while their patient is being transported by ambulance. Some do not understand the signage and arrive at one hospital while their patient arrives at the other. Many people coming to the hospitals for services are elderly or may be ill. Many are driving to the hospital under great stress, perhaps arriving in the last stages of labor prior to giving birth or driving a loved one with chest pain or stroke symptoms to the hospital. In many cases their physicians have instructed them to come to the emergency room, the physician plans to meet them there and hospital staff is prepared for their arrival. You can imagine the frustration and also the danger of arriving at the other hospital. Reaching a particular hospital as quickly as possible is more than just a convenience in some cases. Mercy Health Center offers some services not available elsewhere in the community. Examples are complete cardiac services, a heart lung bypass machine for severe chest trauma or open heart surgery and a neonatal intensive care unit. When these services are specifically needed, time is critically important and reaching this hospital is essential. .-:: ..' .,.. Michael Koch, City Engineer March 5, 1998 Page Two I believe there is a workable solution that I would like you to consider. For westbound motorists, place a sign east of the Hil1/Bryant exit that would say: "Mercy Health Center this exit/The Finley Hospital next exit." For eastbound motorists, place a sign west of the Fremont/Grandview exit that would say: "The Finley Hospital this exit/Mercy Health Center next exit." This would require no more signs than now, just clearer information. I appreciate your consideration of this important matter, and I wi11look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, ~ /1~/L Russell M. Knight President and CEO - -r I I -i I I I