St. Cloud Hospital of St. Cloud, Minn., has opened a $223 million addition that includes an enhanced operating room, intensive care unit and surgical suites as well as a family birthing center. The facility's bed count of 489 did not change.
James Davis, vice president of operations for St. Cloud's parent, CentraCare Health System, said the construction project enabled St. Cloud to transition to a greater percentage of private rooms while improving the technology used, particularly in the intensive care unit and surgery center.
The new family birthing center features antepartum, labor and delivery and postpartum rooms and operating rooms. Patient rooms include private bathrooms and space for guests. St. Cloud plans to convert the space that formerly housed the center, into an improved neonatal intensive care unit. Next year, St. Cloud will move a perinatal clinic from off-campus to a site adjacent to the birthing center.
Davis said St. Cloud funded the addition with tax-exempt bonds, retained earnings from operations and nearly $22 million generated through fund-raising campaigns. He noted the community's generosity — and St. Cloud's willingness to invest in the addition — during recessionary times.
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