White Community Hospital officially joins SMDC Health System
Contact: Kim Kaiser
SMDC Media Relations
(218) 786-4154
July 1, 2010
As of July 1, White Community Hospital officially joins SMDC Health System. The integration means the hospital also becomes part of Essentia Health, which stretches across five states and includes SMDC, Innovis Health and Essentia Community Hospitals and Clinics.
SMDC already has a clinic in Aurora. This new relationship brings the hospital and clinic closer together – both from an organizational and a physical standpoint. In a little over a year, the clinic staff will move to a newly constructed space that’s part of the hospital, leaving behind their aging facility.
“This is an exciting day for health care on the East Range,” says Laura Ackman, hospital administrator. “Our collaboration will benefit our patients and our community.”
Demolition is expected to start in an abandoned portion of the hospital in about a month. That will make way for a $4.5 million construction project, which includes new clinic space along with a laboratory, radiology suite, lobby and registration area. Groundbreaking will likely take place late summer or fall, with occupancy slated for September 2011.
“After several years of talks, it’s gratifying to see the outcome today,” says Mike Motley, SMDC Vice President of Regional Operations. “This integration is the best way to strengthen and stabilize health care in this community.”
The hospital’s 140 employees are becoming SMDC staff. The integrated organization continues to have its own board of directors, with local representation. The hospital’s former shareholders are now part of the hospital’s new fundraising foundation.
In addition, the White Community Hospital Nursing Home becomes part of SMDC and Essentia, with the goal of maintaining long-term care options in the community.
Integration also means that SMDC’s electronic medical records system will eventually expand to include the hospital. Patients will have access to SMDC’s outreach programs, and SMDC is working to recruit a third physician to the area.