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For Immediate Release | For more information, contact: |
Owatonna Healthcare Campus held Groundbreaking Ceremony for new hospital, expanded clinicOWATONNA, Minn 07/31/2007--The groundbreaking ceremony for the Owatonna Healthcare Campus was held Tuesday, July 31 at the future site of the new hospital and expanded clinic, 2200 26th Street. The ceremony marked the beginning of the Owatonna Hospital construction project and the Owatonna Clinic-Mayo Health System expansion project to address the growing and changing health care needs of Steele County.  Allina leaders on hand for the groundbreaking, from left to right: Michael Sharpe, vice president of Real Estate Management; Lori Wightman, president of New Ulm Medical Center; William King, associate general counsel; Dave Albrecht, director of Finance at Owatonna Hospital; Dick Pettingill, president and CEO; Dorothy Erdmann, president of Owatonna Hospital; Bill Dunham, director of facility design and construction; Mary Foarde, vice president of Law and Public Policy; and Thor Nelson, director of Diagnostic and Interventional Services at Mercy, who was on the original planning team.
The two-story, 131,000 square-foot replacement hospital will be connected to the 52,000 square-foot 2-story clinic expansion on the west side of the existing Owatonna Clinic - 26th Street building. Clinic construction will begin in early August and be completed by summer of 2008. Hospital construction will begin in October with expected completion in summer 2009. The expansion will provide improved patient access to health care services. "This project will address future needs for both clinic and hospital patients, as well as provide a better working environment for our staff," says Brian Bunkers, MD and chief executive officer of Owatonna Clinic. "We’re committed to keeping the needs of our patients first and providing them with excellent medical care." The ceremonious shoveling of earth symbolizes the vision for the community that began more than ten years ago – to build an integrated healthcare campus for Steele County residents. “"his groundbreaking marks a truly momentous day for Owatonna Hospital, Owatonna Clinic and the entire community," says Dorothy Erdmann, Owatonna Hospital president. "While our investment is in bricks and mortar, it will allow us to create a new health care experience for patients, families, staff and visitors." In June 2006, the Allina Hospitals & Clinics board of directors released funding for a $46 million replacement hospital in Owatonna. Some of the changes with the replacement hospital include: private patient rooms; expanded surgery suites; expanded Emergency Department; helipad; expanded outpatient surgery; expanded rehabilitation area; Reflection Room; and expansion of diagnostics imaging (radiology) service. The clinic expansion includes the construction of a 2-story addition to the existing clinic, which will house physician services currently provided at the Southview location. Southview Clinic provides primary care, surgery, orthopedics, OB/GYN, pediatrics, ear, nose and throat, urology, and urgent care. Attendees of the groundbreaking ceremony included: Peter Carryer, M.D., chair of Mayo Health System board-operations; Dick Pettingill, Allina Hospitals & Clinics CEO and president; and Tom Kuntz, Owatonna city mayor. About Owatonna HospitalThe new Owatonna Hospital will be connected to the current Owatonna Clinic-Mayo Health System 26th Street location, off Interstate 35, creating a health care campus. The facility will be designed to create an environment for providing high quality, safe, patient-centered care for residents in the region. Owatonna Hospital and Allina Hospitals & Clinics are taking a leadership role to promote healthy eating and physical activity through their heart healthy living and obesity initiatives with an emphasis on childhood obesity. Over the next five years, Allina and Owatonna Hospital will be working with community organizations to improve nutrition and increase physical activity to decrease obesity and improve heart health.
About Owatonna Clinic - Mayo Health SystemOwatonna Clinic is a comprehensive medical clinic offering outpatient and specialty services. The clinic emphasizes general and more specialized healthcare services for the entire family. The clinic offers comprehensive laboratory, diagnostic and infusion therapy services. In addition, while physicians at Owatonna Clinic meet the vast majority of patients health care needs in Owatonna, a team of visiting specialists from Mayo Clinic see patients locally, providing convenient consultation and care close to home. # # # Related Links
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