Sanford Bemidji announces construction of new heart & vascular center
New 56,000 SF Center Will Be Largest Addition to Sanford Bemidji Medical Center Since 2004
Sanford Health will break ground on a new heart and vascular center at the Sanford Bemidji Medical Center in spring of 2020.
“Since bringing interventional cardiology to the region 10 years ago, we have outgrown our current space,” said Susan Jarvis, President and CEO of Sanford Health of Northern Minnesota. “With the help of generous donors, the new heart center will be 56,000 square-feet—the largest addition to the Sanford Bemidji Medical Center since 2004.”
The center will cost over $25 million with $2.5 million raised by the Sanford Foundation. Naming rights and donor opportunities for the building and certain areas within the center are still available. The Sanford Foundation invites and encourages everyone to take part in making this project a reality.
Located between the medical center’s east entrance and the Main Clinic east of the Healing Garden, this new center will house all cardiology, vascular, pulmonary and respiratory therapy services. This includes 19 clinic rooms, 11 diagnostic imaging rooms, education rooms, a cardiovascular recovery unit family room and 3 cath labs with space to add a fourth.
Expanded Capacity, Improved Patient Experience
Since beginning the program a decade ago, the cardiology department has experienced a 20% growth year-over-year reaching capacity in 2019. In that same time, heart disease-related deaths have decreased by up to 15% in the region.
With direct access to the second floor of the medical center, the building will allow patients to transfer to inpatient floors and services more smoothly providing a better, overall patient experience.
“This new space will allow for future expansions of services, and the capacity to hire an additional three providers and subsequent staff,” said Kaileigh Chapman, director of cardiology. “The center will also have the ability to add a fourth cath lab and an electrophysiology specialist and services in the future.”
Kraus-Anderson Leads Construction Project
Construction for the new center will take approximately 18 months wrapping up in fall of 2021. Kraus-Anderson Construction as well as 20-25 regional sub-contractors will be working on the project.
The center plans include implementing green/energy efficient practices similar to those that are currently in place throughout the medical center including LEDs, energy efficient boilers and access to single-stream recycling.
The healing garden located west of the center will remain in its current location for visitors and staff to enjoy. The space occupied by the current heart and vascular center will be used to expand current ancillary services.
“Thank you to everyone who has worked together these last four years to make this center a reality,” said Jarvis. “With the help of this new center, we will be able to continue our promise to care for the health needs of our community.”
About Sanford Health Foundation
The Sanford Health Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the enhancement and expansion of health care services, state-of-the-art technology and facilities to provide health and healing for the northern Minnesota region.
Anyone interested in supporting the Foundation may do so by contacting the Sanford Health Foundation at (218) 333-5515. Partnering with the Foundation not only supports new services and technology, but also helps care for individuals within the community.
About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, one of the largest health systems in the United States, is dedicated to the integrated delivery of health care, genomic medicine, senior care and services, global clinics, research and affordable insurance. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization includes 44 hospitals, 1,400 physicians and more than 200 Good Samaritan Society senior care locations in 26 states and nine countries. Nearly $1 billion in gifts from philanthropist Denny Sanford have transformed how Sanford Health improves the human condition. For information, visit sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.
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