Sisters of Mercy Health System of Chesterfield, Mo., has broken ground on an $88 million outpatient care facility that administrators said will be a prototype for similar projects throughout the four states in which the system operates.
The Edmond, Okla., facility will house an outpatient surgery center, wellness center, imaging and women's unit, pharmacy, child care facility for patients' children, lab and other service areas. More than 30 specialists will be located at the campus.
David Tew, the chief operating officer for Mercy in Oklahoma, said that Mercy's decision to offer just outpatient services at the Edmond site reflects a systemwide movement. "What we know is that the majority of patients today across the nation are not treated in hospital facilities. The majority of patients are receiving care through outpatient settings."
Edmond has one hospital, and it is not affiliated with Mercy. Mercy operates a network of clinics and other sites in the community, but with a growing population, the city needs more facilities focusing on wellness, Tew said. Mercy's next closest hospital is in Oklahoma City, which is about 10 miles south of Edmond.
Mercy tapped the community to develop the Edmond facility: Input from round tables and a community advisory board shaped design decisions. Mercy is incorporating green design in the facility including lots of natural light.
The facility may be called Mercy Health Services Edmond I-35. The groundbreaking took place in February, and administrators expect the campus to open in summer 2013.