STURGIS, SD (6/2/2015) – Sturgis Regional Hospital has announced plans to build a $10 million addition to the hospital and sell off the building which now houses Massa Berry Clinic.

Mark Schulte, president of Regional Health’s Sturgis Market, revealed the hospital’s plans before the Sturgis City Council Monday.

Regional hopes to break ground in the fall on the new 20,365 square-foot clinic on the hospital campus. The current specialty clinic will be renovated and areas for the clinic will be added on either side of that. Additional parking also will be added.

And that is the main reason Schulte appeared before the council. Regional Health is seeking to buy the areas where the Nolin and flat track racer monuments are situated adjacent Junction Avenue near the hospital.

“We looked at what is best for the project from our patients’ standpoint and resources standpoint. It became evident that the adjacent city property that houses the Nolin Monument would be our best choice. That will give us 60 parking spaces,” Schulte said.

“This will allow the project to be done correctly and position health care services to not only continue, but also expand and thrive in Sturgis,” he said.

Schulte said Regional Health wants to have both the clinic and hospital under the same roof to meet the future needs of the community.

“We know that our current facilities won’t continue to meet our patients’ needs if we do not continue to upgrade them,” Schulte said.

Schulte said that in moving forward, Regional Health wants to create a health home for all of its Regional health services in Sturgis.

“This health home will allow our patients to receive all of their current medical services in one location, under one roof,” he said.

No jobs will be lost in the consolidation, Schulte said.

“When we make the move to one location, the same people that had a job prior to the move will continue to have a job after the move,” he said. “With the continued growth that we are anticipating, we will need all the help we can get in order to provide top-notch healthcare.”

Condensed reprint courtesy of Meade County Times-Tribune, Deb Holland