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Groundbreaking held on $3.5 million surgery projectThe ground on the surgery renovation and expansion project at the New Ulm Medical Center has been ceremoniously and officially broken. Over 100 community members, staff and physicians attended the groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday, April 30.
The current surgery department at the New Ulm Medical Center has not had any major renovations for over 25 years. The $3.5 million project will create two new, larger operating rooms and increase the size of an existing operating room. It will improve the privacy and comfort of the patient recovery area, increase storage and improve the family waiting area, among other things.
“I think the wonderful turnout for the event was an indication of the fact that community members are really taking ownership in this project,” said Carisa Buegler, NUMC Foundation Director. “There is a true feeling that this is our community hospital and when improvements are made it is exciting and beneficial for all.”
The same day the ground on the project was ceremoniously broken, the capital campaign that is charged with raising $750,000 of the $3.5 million project had a momentous day as well –donations and pledges toward the project reached 90 percent. Allina Hospitals & Clinics has pledged the remainder of the $2.75 million.
“The support from community members, businesses, staff and physicians has been tremendous,” Buegler said. “Donations and pledges continue to come in and we expect to reach our goal very soon.”
At 91 percent – or $683,813 – of the goal, the donations and pledges break down into these categories: $171,804 from community members; $128,110 from physicians; $84,995 from auxiliary and volunteers; $131,104 from NUMC employees; and $167,800 from businesses and organizations in the area.
Since the groundbreaking, crews from general contractor Kraus Anderson have begun preliminary work on the project.
“The outside work will begin first with the expansion of the existing department,” said Toby Freier, NUMC Director of Operations and Finance. “Then they will connect the old with the new and begin renovation of the existing department.”
Elaborate plans have been developed to ensure that the department can continue to function during the construction period, Freier said. The project is expected to take about nine months to complete.
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New Ulm Medical Center
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