Clinic, hospital expansion begins

PARK RAPIDS ENTERPRISE, Friday, June 08, 2007
By Lu Ann Hurd-Lof

Speakers at the groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday for the expansion of St. Joseph's Area Health Services and Dakota Clinic brought forward a theme of cooperation.

Helen Keezer, St. Joseph's board chair, said the project will make possible a unified health system for patients and families.

The $26 million investment also will give St. Joseph's and Dakota Clinic the ability to enhance services and recruit physicians and staff, Keezer said. "It will make St. Joseph's a leader in medical services throughout north central Minnesota."

Dr. Larry Leadbetter, medical director at Dakota Clinic in Park Rapids and board member at Dakota Clinic in Fargo, praised management from Dakota and St. Joseph's and St. Joseph's sponsor, Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), for working through the issues to make the project possible.

"This will be a benefit to the community," Leadbetter said, suggesting the new facility will provide staff with the ability to work on ways to make the health care system in Park Rapids even better.

Mark Schick, St. Joseph's Foundation board chair, said the board has raised in excess of $1.5 million toward a goal of $2.5 million.

"It's your support and generosity that have made this possible," he told the audience.

Larry Solberg, CEO of Dakota Clinic and Innovis Health, said he knows of no project for Dakota Clinic that's gone on so long, but commended CHI's commitment to make it work.

"It's been a positive experience and gives us an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to the Park Rapids community," Solberg added.

In his welcome, Ben Koppelman, St. Joseph's president/CEO, said the ceremony celebrates the visibility of a new era on campus.

The facility is being built on behalf of patients and their families and will attract providers of high quality services, he said.

The project will fulfill a vision and plan to provide medical services under one roof in a patient-friendly environment and a more cost effective manner.

"It's all part of an amazing history of health care in the community. We look forward to cutting the ribbon together at the end," Koppelman said.

Dr. Greg Glasner, chair of the Dakota Clinic board of directors, said working with CHI was "a breath of fresh air" and the project provides a great opportunity for both service providers.

"This is a win-win for everyone," Glasner said. "We look forward to the start and finish of this project."

The last speaker was Larry Schulz, CHI vice president. "It's a great day here in Park Rapids," he said, thanking the board of directors for their vision and the physicians and employees for the quality of care they provide.

"By working together we can create an even greater vision for health care. Two years from now, we will have a new state-of-the-art facility for the medical community and those we serve. We look forward to a real positive future and providing services for many years to come," Schulz said.