Brookings Health System Breaks Ground for Hospital Expansion & Renovation Project
- July 14, 2015
Foundation Announces $4.6 Million Capital Campaign Goal with Lead Gift from First Bank & Trust
Yesterday afternoon Brookings Health System celebrated groundbreaking on the $46 million hospital expansion and renovation project. Construction is set to start early August.
“This is a historic moment for our health system,” said President and CEO Jason Merkley. “The expansion and renovation will allow us to update patient care areas to meet customer expectations, including patient privacy and confidential transport. In addition, the project will allow Brookings Health System to increase capacity to care for the growing community. The plans also allow the health system to adopt new health care design trends that allow easier access to services, staffing efficiency and ample space for families and visitors to gather with patients.”
The project will add 62,500 square feet to the east side of Brookings Hospital to house surgery, medical imaging, obstetrics and medical/surgical care. A new 30,000 square-foot medical office building connected to the hospital will be built simultaneously on the west side. Existing hospital space will also be renovated to accommodate services displaced due to the new construction and house ancillary staff currently located off campus.
At the celebration the Brookings Health System Foundation announced its $4.6 million capital campaign goal to raise funds toward the project. The Foundation has already raised $2.1 million, nearly 50 percent of the goal, thanks in part to a $1 million lead gift from First Bank & Trust.
“First Bank & Trust is proud to invest in health care close to home,” said President Kevin Tetzlaff. “Supporting local health care has been a long-time priority of the Fishback family. Horace Fishback, Sr. was one of two local businessmen to fund the hospital building constructed in 1907. We encourage our community to join us in supporting Brookings Health System.”
Gifts to the Foundation’s capital campaign can be made at www.brookingshealth.org/Foundation. More information on the project can be found online at www.brookingshealth.org/Renovation.
About First Bank & Trust
First Bank & Trust is part of the Fishback Financial Corporation, one of the largest privately held bank holding corporations in South Dakota. With sixteen bank locations in twelve communities along the I29 Corridor in eastern South Dakota and southwestern Minnesota, First Bank & Trust has a history that dates back to 1880 in Brookings, SD. Today, the organization employs close to 500 and provides innovative banking solutions in a community bank setting designed to make banking… EASY. For more information about First Bank & Trust or Fishback Financial Corporation, visit bankeasy.com.
About Brookings Health System Foundation
The mission of Brookings Health System Foundation is “Inspiring people to support Brookings Health System through philanthropy, recognizing the vital role of local healthcare in sustaining quality of life in our community.” Gifts to the Foundation support charity health care for those less fortunate, health and wellness education, facility, equipment, and technology upgrades and other needs as they arise at Brookings Health System. For more information about Brookings Health System Foundation or how you may contribute, please contact Foundation Officer Barb Anderson at (605) 696-8855 or foundation@brookingshealth.org.
About Brookings Health System
Brookings Health System, located in Brookings, South Dakota, includes a 49-bed hospital, the 79-bed The Neighborhoods at Brookview nursing home, Brookhaven Estates senior living apartments, Yorkshire Eye Clinic, Arlington Medical Center, White Medical Clinic and Volga Medical Clinic. It is a non-profit, city-owned facility that offers the community a full range of inpatient, outpatient, surgical and extended care services. The emergency room is staffed 24 hours a day and provides around the clock patient needs ranging from minor injuries to life threatening crises. For more information about the services offered at Brookings Health System, please call (605) 696-9000 or visit us on the Web at brookingshealth.org.