By: Matt Scher, matts@977thebolt.com
Humboldt, IA – Humboldt County Memorial Hospital (HCMH) has broken ground on a major Radiology and Surgery Expansion Project that will bring permanent MRI services to HCMH while expanding and renovating the hospital’s surgery and radiology spaces.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held Monday, September 14.
The project represents approximately 2,370 square feet of new construction and approximately 4,300 square feet of renovations, for approximately 6,600 square feet of total work.
HCMH says the project is an investment in the hospital’s ability to continue providing high-quality imaging and surgical services in Humboldt and to better serve patients and surrounding rural communities.
A major component of the project is the addition of a permanent MRI machine at HCMH. The hospital currently relies on a mobile MRI unit that periodically comes to Humboldt.
HCMH CEO Michelle Sleiter says having an MRI on site has been part of the hospital’s strategic plan for years.
“This has been part of our strategic plan for years,” Sleiter said. “I’ve been here about 12 years and we’ve been talking about having an MRI on house for that long.”
Sleiter says the new MRI will offer capabilities beyond those available through the hospital’s current mobile unit. Those additional capabilities include prostate imaging and breast MRI imaging, services that currently require some patients to leave Humboldt County. The permanent MRI is expected to make those services more accessible to patients in Humboldt and surrounding rural communities.
“Travel is hard for patients and whether they’re sick or they’re elderly,” Sleiter said. “So, being able to do it right here in Humboldt is a huge priority of ours.”
The new MRI will be a closed MRI, rather than an open MRI. Sleiter says the closed system provides the image quality the hospital wants for patients. HCMH will also be able to provide some sedation for patients who are claustrophobic or otherwise have difficulty with the procedure.
The MRI will not be staffed 24 hours a day. Sleiter says some overnight emergencies will still require outside resources, but when staff are available, the permanent MRI will allow physicians to obtain needed imaging and results more quickly.
The addition of a permanent MRI is expected to increase both MRI volume and the range of radiology services available at HCMH. The hospital plans to hire at least two new employees as part of the MRI expansion. Some will be specifically trained in MRI, while others will help backfill general radiology positions.
HCMH board member Kevin Bornhoff says the permanent MRI will be a significant benefit to the community.
“We relied on the truck coming around occasionally,” Bornhoff said. “Now we’ll have our own MRI machine so we can serve our community and patients.”
The project also includes renovation and expansion of HCMH’s surgery department. The work will add two additional pre- and post-operative rooms and a more sophisticated recovery area for patients. Sleiter says the additional space will give HCMH room to grow its surgical services and potentially bring additional surgeons to Humboldt.
The hospital does not plan to immediately add surgery staff as part of the project. Instead, the expansion is intended to provide the infrastructure for future growth in surgical volume and staffing.
The MRI portion of the project is being supported by approximately $1.5 million in Rural Health Transformation funding.
Sleiter says HCMH applied for the funding in December and was awarded the grant early this year. The MRI grant is fully funded, meaning HCMH does not have to provide a matching contribution.
The hospital also received $120,000 in grant funding to assist with recruitment of an emergency room physician.
Construction activity is getting underway following the September 14 groundbreaking.
During September, construction site setup and exterior construction activity will begin. Toward the end of September, demolition and exterior work are expected to begin taking shape.
Graham Construction of Des Moines will serve as the project’s construction manager. Graham also served in the same role during HCMH’s 2019 project. Sande Construction was selected for three of the project bids. Baker Electric of Fort Dodge will handle electrical work, while Midwest Mechanical will handle mechanical work.
HCMH’s current projected timeline calls for the following:
September 2026: Groundbreaking and construction site setup, with exterior construction activity getting underway.
Late September 2026: Demolition and exterior work expected to begin taking shape.
August 2027: Current target for delivery of the permanent MRI.
September 2027: Current target for full completion of the project.
HCMH notes that the timeline may change as the project progresses.
Construction is also bringing temporary changes to how some patients access the hospital.
Surgery and pain patients will enter through the hospital’s main entrance during construction. The current rear waiting area has been closed, and fencing will be installed around the construction area.
Hospital staff will help patients navigate from the main entrance to the appropriate area.
Surgery recoveries will temporarily take place in HCMH’s inpatient care unit, where surgery and inpatient nurses will work together to continue providing patient care during construction.
Sleiter says the project is another step in HCMH’s long-term strategic efforts to respond to the healthcare needs of Humboldt and the surrounding area. She says the hospital continues to work with primary care providers and listen to patients about services they would like to see available locally.
“We won’t stop,” Sleiter said. “So, we are continuing in our strategic journey what healthcare is bringing and what we can do here.”
For HCMH, the project will provide permanent MRI services, expanded surgical capacity and renovated clinical space while positioning the hospital for continued growth in healthcare services in Humboldt.