Hospital Signage - US 20/Dodge Street
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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.
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Mtchael C. Van Milligen
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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
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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
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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
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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
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.ng Division
,( 13th Street
.Jque, Iowa 52001-4864
,Ice (319) 589-4270
ax (319) 589-4149
DUB~E
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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/'
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Michael A. Koch
Public Works Director
MAK/ksa
cc: Tim Moerman, Assistant City Manager
Bill Schlickman, Traffic Engineering Assistant
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..~ 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
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\)~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.
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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,
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Russell M. Knight
President and CEO
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