By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Clinic hospice project on target
56161a.jpg
An artist's rendering shows the great room of the Monroe Clinic's Hospice Home project. (Image supplied)
MONROE - The Monroe Clinic's Hospice Home project is on track to complete its funding by the end of this year, with the facility to open in early summer 2017.

The Monroe Clinic and Hospital Foundation, which will construct an eight-bedroom out-of-home hospice facility on County N in Monroe, has raised all but $300,000 of the $2.8 million required for the project, said Tracey Pederson, executive director of the foundation.

"Frankly, I was hoping the funding would be done by now," Pederson said. "But I think we'll get the rest by the end of this year."

The project is funded by a capital campaign run by the foundation, with community donations and area businesses accounting for the bulk of the $2.5 million already raised since fundraising began in April of this year.

Pederson said she was confident that the remainder of the required funds could be raised in the same manner before the new year.

Meanwhile, construction on the building itself began earlier this year, with a groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 26. Pederson said the facility's walls were erected two weeks ago.

If all goes well with the construction process, the building will hopefully be completed in the spring.

"We're hoping to be open by May or June next year," Pederson said.

The facility will serve as an addition to the Clinic's existing hospice service, which provides patients with hospice care either in-home or at other care facilities. The Hospice Home will allow patients to receive professional care from trained staff while remaining close to their families in Monroe.

Pederson said the Clinic has not yet opened enrollment for the facility's eight rooms but would open it for current hospice patients before the facility's completion.