June 19, 2009

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St. Cloud Hospital expansion moves ahead

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The boards of directors of St. Cloud Hospital and CentraCare Health System Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to construction of the east addition to St. Cloud Hospital.

In a joint meeting, the boards voted to move ahead with the project after they charged a committee with developing a plan for refinancing at least a portion of the project from variable-rate to fixed-rate bonds. The project’s original financing structure was appropriate when the variable-rate option was selected, but changes in the U.S. economy during the past year have made fixed-rate a better choice.

The goals of the east addition remain the same:

• Increase the number of private rooms;
• Replace the 25-year-old intensive care units;
• Enhance operating rooms to accommodate the latest technology;
• Update and expand the Women & Children’s Center;
• Replace the outdated, inadequate loading dock, warehouse and distribution center.
  

“The project will enhance our ability to serve the health care needs of Central Minnesota residents for the next 30 to 50 years,” said St. Cloud Hospital President Craig Broman. “We are proud to be building on the strong foundation of caring established by the Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict when they opened the first hospital in our community in 1886.”

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