Lakewood Breaks Ground on Expansion Projects

Staples, MN – October 24, 2016 — Just shy of its 80th anniversary, Lakewood Health System officially broke ground on the expansion projects for its Staples and Pillager clinics on Monday, October 10. Two ceremonies were held, one at Lakewood’s main campus in Staples, and the other at the Pillager clinic.

The focus of the expansion projects is to better meet the growing needs of Lakewood patients and the community. With the increasing number of providers and services, comes the need for more space. Conversations about a potential expansion began in 2012, but decisions and details were finalized in 2016, with the projects slated to start in November of this year.

President and CEO Tim Rice, Board Chairs Loren Morey and Mary Theurer, and CMO Dr. John Halfen spoke to the increasing space needs, the various people and partners involved in the project planning and implementation, and the details of the project.

The details of the project include: expansions of both the main (13,835 sq. ft.) and lower (13,294 sq. ft.) levels at the Staples clinic, to include new and remodeled exam rooms, behavioral health treatment rooms, and a procedure room; addition and remodel of the hospital and emergency department (9,340 sq. ft.), to include new private treatment rooms and an in-house MRI; and an addition to the Pillager clinic (14,555 sq. ft.), to include new and remodeled exam rooms and a procedure room.

Additionally, the layout and design of the expanded and remodeled Staples clinic will work to further promote the care team concept, which helps coordinate patient care, provide better access to providers, and improve communication across the system.

Representatives from project partners such as the USDA, BWBR, and Nor-Son Construction were also present at the ceremonies. The loan for the projects came from the USDA’s Rural Development program, BWBR was the project architect, and Nor-Son Construction will do the build.

Key stakeholders posed for the official groundbreaking photo:

From left: Brad Anderson, VP of Strategy and Development; Kathy Dobson, VP of Senior Services; Dr. John Halfen, CMO; Craig Wolhowe, VP of Hospital and Clinics; Lisa Bjerga, CFO; Jeff Scholten, USDA; Dr. Christine Albrecht; Teresa Fisher, CNO/COO; Mary Theurer, District Board Chair; Tim Rice, President and CEO; Loren Morey, System Board Chair; Ryan Johansen and Jenifer Jirele, BWBR; Richard Bell, Steve Poissant, Eric Lien, Mark Strelnieks, and Scott Kuehl, Nor-Son. (Not pictured: Lynn Rice, VP of Support Services)

AMBER HOUSELOG
amberhouselog@lakewoodhealthsystem.com
Lakewood Health System
TEL  218-894-8818

Lakewood Health System (LHS) is an independent rural healthcare system founded in 1936 with a hospital and clinic in Staples, primary care clinics in Browerville, Eagle Bend, Motley and Pillager, and a dermatology clinic and skin and laser center in Sartell. LHS is a recognized leader in providing innovative, patient-based care including women’s specialty services, senior services, surgical and outreach care. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Lakewood Health System, 49725 County Road 83, Staples, Minnesota. Phone: 218-894-1515. www.lakewoodhealthsystem.com.