Avera leaders say a new campus in Sioux Falls can better serve people with specialty health needs and promote economic growth. Wednesday Avera Health announced plans for building projects including new buildings and a surgical hospital.
Avera on Louise is the name of an additional campus planned for 82 acres at 69th Street and Louise Avenue in Sioux Falls.
Dr. Dave Kapaska is Avera McKennan Hospital’s President and CEO.
"This project has been years in the making," Kapaska says. "It’s a bold step to be part of a broad and unified development plan to meet the rapidly growing needs of Sioux Falls."
Kapaska says plans include medical areas and office space using 260,000 square feet.
Avera on Louise includes a 24-bed surgical hospital and procedure rooms for specialty visits and gastro-intestinal procedures.
Dr. Tad Jacobs is Chief Medical Officer for Avera Medical Group. He says orthopedics and gastroenterology are growing specialties. Jacobs points to aging baby boomers.
"A lot of those are in the area of orthopedics, whether it’s joint replacement – or if it’s in the area of GI concerns," Jacobs says. "Certainly screening starts at age 50, really, unless you have a high risk, for colon cancer, and so that need is ever-increasing."
"The economic impact of this project will be considerable." -Avera's Dave Kapaska
Jacobs says a core orthopedic surgical team can also address complicated sports injuries.
Leaders say Avera on Louise practices also include rheumatology, internal medicine and other therapies. With renovations planned at Avera’s main campus, the health organization’s building projects total $174 million.
Avera Health says the Sioux Falls building project is the largest in the city’s history.
"The economic impact of this project will be considerable, both in terms of the workers who participate in the construction as well as those who work on the materials which we’ll purchase to put this together. Over 600 workers – 600 workers – will participate directly in the construction over the next two years with an estimated payroll of near 28 million," Kapaska says.
Kapaska says the project has a broader economic impact valued at $118 million and 1,200 jobs.
Officials plan to break ground on the new facility this summer. The estimate completing Avera on Louise in 2020.
