Rock Rapids, Iowa — Ground has been broken on a new $5 million clinic and outpatient facility in Rock Rapids.
About 50 to 60 people braved sleet and 34-degree weather to attend the groundbreaking ceremony on Friday morning, March 23rd, 2018.
Sanford Rock Rapids’ Senior Director Tammy Loosbrock says it feels good to get the construction going on their new facility.
The “divide” that Loosbrock mentioned is due to the fact that while the physicians and primary care providers have committed to moving to the new facility, the owners of the old facility, the Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital Board of Trustees signed an agreement to build a new hospital and clinic with Avera Health. It’s not known which of the nurses or staff people will join Avera in their new facility and which will stay with Sanford in their new facility.
Loosbrock tells us about the design of Sanford’s new facility.
She says they also hope to be able to use new technology.
She gives us the timeline.
In his remarks, Sanford Rock Rapids Physician Chester De Jong spoke to the changes from the “employee family” perspective.
De Jong told about several people going above and beyond their job descriptions to help patients and families. He says there is uncertainty among the medical staff about their futures.
De Jong says it’s time to put the past behind us. He says when he sees the new facilities, he’s going to focus on the good.
De Jong says that person is physician’s assistant Brenda Vis, who was the only local provider when the hospital and clinic was going through a tough time. The remark was met with applause from the crowd.
After the opening remarks, gold shovels were employed by local dignitaries and Sanford officials, and the ceremonial first soil was turned.
