Good Samaritan Will Break Ground on New Hospital Construction in April

After years of planning, the vision for a new medical campus in Southern Illinois will soon become a reality.  

"We are very excited to announce our plans to break ground in April," states Mike Warren, President of Good Samaritan Regional Health Center.  "We have carefully planned this project for many years, and it has been well worth the effort.  Our new hospital will incorporate some of the most innovative health care design concepts in the country.  It will also include features unique to Good Samaritan based upon thoughtful input from our physicians, our employees, and members of our community.  Together, we have designed a state-of-the-art hospital for the people of Southern Illinois." 

The 359,000 square foot replacement hospital will be double the size of the existing facility.  The design process has been led by BSA LifeStructures, a nationally-recognized architectural firm specializing exclusively in health care architecture   Construction of the facility will be a cooperative venture between McCarthy Building of St. Louis, Lipps Construction of Mt. Vernon, and Shores Construction of Centralia.  

"Our new hospital will raise the standard for health care throughout the region," continues Warren.  "It will include all private rooms with accommodations for family members, safety features to reduce patient falls, nature elements to promote a healing environment, green concepts to save energy, room service menu selection for patients, and a convenient layout for outpatient services and parking." 

Good Samaritan's replacement hospital will have 134-beds and consist of a Garden Level and five floors.  A brand new Medical Office Building, which will include a Surgery Center and numerous outpatient diagnostic services, will be connected to the hospital and constructed concurrently.  Total investment for the replacement hospital, the Medical Office Building, and the Surgery Center is estimated to be $237 million. 

The new medical campus will be located on Veteran's Memorial Drive, directly adjacent to the new interchange for Interstates 57 and 64.  Two of Good Samaritan's joint venture projects are already located on the site, the Orthopedic Center of Southern Illinois and the Center for Comprehensive Cancer Care.

"With this project, Good Samaritan will truly become a regional referral center, serving not only Mt. Vernon, but the entire Southern Illinois region," says Phil Gustafson, CEO of St. Mary's Good Samaritan.  "Our organization has experienced considerable growth over the past decade due to the successful recruitment of so many excellent physicians.  With a new facility, we will be able to take this growth to a new level by attracting highly-trained physicians, nurses, and technologists to our organization in the immediate and long-term future.”

St. Mary's Good Samaritan has always been a vital part of the region.  Last year alone, the organization provided over $35 million in charity care and uncompensated Medicaid and Medicare services.   "We are known for our culture of caring, and this is reflected in the overwhelming community support we have received for our new medical campus," continues Gustafson.  "Although we are embarking on a massive financial commitment, we have always been careful stewards of resources.  We are proud to offer the most comprehensive services in the area, while keeping our hospital charges among the lowest in the region.  In addition, we generously give back to our community through numerous outreach programs and substantial charity care.”

St. Mary's Good Samaritan is co-sponsored by SSM Health Care of St. Louis and Felician Services, Inc. of Chicago.  As the managing partner, SSM Health Care approved the hospital's April groundbreaking at a Board meeting last week.  "The team at Good Samaritan has continued to offer exceptional care to patients, despite many challenges presented by the size and age of the existing facility," states Sr. Mary Jean Ryan, FSM, CEO of SSM Health Care.  “I’m delighted that this facility will serve the people of this wonderful community.”

"Good Samaritan has made impressive strides this year in quality and safety outcomes, physician recruitment, and employee satisfaction.  With so much positive momentum moving forward, it is clear Good Samaritan has a very bright future ahead,” adds Sr. Clarette Stryzewski, CSSF, President / CEO of Felician Services and current Chairperson of the St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Board of Directors.

When construction begins next spring, it will provide a sizeable boost to the regional economy -- creating an average of 275 full time construction jobs for a 30-month period (creating up to 430 full time jobs during the peak of construction). 

Even more importantly, the new medical campus will be a true asset to economic development by creating permanent jobs and keeping health care revenue within the region.  The project is conservatively estimated to create an additional 112 permanent jobs at the hospital and Surgery Center by the second full year of operation.  In addition, there is expected to be an estimated demand for 10 additional physicians and some 40 full time physician office positions.  So in all, this new facility is estimated to directly create an additional $11 million in permanent salaries and benefits within our region.  St. Mary's Good Samaritan currently employs 1,753 full time employees with an annual payroll of nearly $118 million in salary and benefits.

Good Samaritan was awarded unanimous approval for its new medical campus by the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board earlier this year.  An official groundbreaking ceremony will be held in April to commemorate the official start of construction. 

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Questions?  Comments? 
Email victoria_woodrow@ssmhc.com , or call 618-241-2210