MONROE - Monroe Clinic is expanding its expansion project.
Monroe Clinic Board of Directors and its sponsor, the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, recently approved a budget of $85 million for a revised master facility plan.
A $60 million plan for expansion was announced in 2006, as a need to accommodate current and future growth, as well as to update aging facilities to provide better health care and patient experience. Recently, a decision was made to increase the scope of the project.
"While planning this project, it became clear that meeting the current and future medical needs of the community requires a different facility than originally envisioned," according to Monroe Clinic President and CEO Mike Sanders, in a news release date today.
A new building will house both inpatient and outpatient services, and will provide expanded and more convenient access to care, including a planned helipad to be located near a new ER department.
The building will be located adjacent to the northwest side of the Clinic building. The original plan was to build an addition between the hospital and clinic, as well as renovate the older buildings.
The original plan was determined to be riskier and more expensive in the long run, Sanders said. The old buildings would have needed to be replaced in 15 to 20 years.
"The new building we are now planning will allow us to build more effectively for the future, rather than trying to renovate old space for tomorrow's needs," Sanders said.
Board Chairperson Jim Lee cited inflation as a factor in the new plans.
"The increasing cost of money in the future, and the inefficiencies of renovating old structures with limited life spans make it clear that investing additional funds in the present is the most cost effective solution," he said.
Liz Carroll, director of marketing/community relations, said the new building will be able to accommodate more health programs the Clinic could offer.
Lee said the new plan will cause less disruption to Monroe Clinic's patients. There will be less movement of departments, a smoother transition and less interruption in care.
The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes wholeheartedly supports the expanded project.
"High quality, accessible, and affordable health care is a basic human right and critical to the overall well-being of the community," said Sister Mary Noel Brown.
The size of the new building has not been determined. Carroll said the $85 million budget represents a project cap, and will not be exceeded.
More project details, including architectural drawings, will be released in the fall.
Monroe Clinic Board of Directors and its sponsor, the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, recently approved a budget of $85 million for a revised master facility plan.
A $60 million plan for expansion was announced in 2006, as a need to accommodate current and future growth, as well as to update aging facilities to provide better health care and patient experience. Recently, a decision was made to increase the scope of the project.
"While planning this project, it became clear that meeting the current and future medical needs of the community requires a different facility than originally envisioned," according to Monroe Clinic President and CEO Mike Sanders, in a news release date today.
A new building will house both inpatient and outpatient services, and will provide expanded and more convenient access to care, including a planned helipad to be located near a new ER department.
The building will be located adjacent to the northwest side of the Clinic building. The original plan was to build an addition between the hospital and clinic, as well as renovate the older buildings.
The original plan was determined to be riskier and more expensive in the long run, Sanders said. The old buildings would have needed to be replaced in 15 to 20 years.
"The new building we are now planning will allow us to build more effectively for the future, rather than trying to renovate old space for tomorrow's needs," Sanders said.
Board Chairperson Jim Lee cited inflation as a factor in the new plans.
"The increasing cost of money in the future, and the inefficiencies of renovating old structures with limited life spans make it clear that investing additional funds in the present is the most cost effective solution," he said.
Liz Carroll, director of marketing/community relations, said the new building will be able to accommodate more health programs the Clinic could offer.
Lee said the new plan will cause less disruption to Monroe Clinic's patients. There will be less movement of departments, a smoother transition and less interruption in care.
The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes wholeheartedly supports the expanded project.
"High quality, accessible, and affordable health care is a basic human right and critical to the overall well-being of the community," said Sister Mary Noel Brown.
The size of the new building has not been determined. Carroll said the $85 million budget represents a project cap, and will not be exceeded.
More project details, including architectural drawings, will be released in the fall.