Community, Staff and ThedaCare Collaborate On Function, Design
ThedaCare announced high-level design work is underway for the new ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano being constructed to replace the 81-year-old Shawano Medical Center. With recent project approvals from ThedaCare system leadership, the project architect has begun developing a site plan that outlines the locations of the current ThedaCare Physicians-Shawano clinic, the location and footprint of the new hospital, roads, and parking. This site plan will be released to the public at the end of April.
ThedaCare and Shawano Medical Center affiliated in 2011 and building a replacement for the aging hospital was included as part of the agreement. The Boldt Co. of Appleton was named general contractor and construction manager. HGA Architects and Engineers of Milwaukee is the project architect. The cost of the entire project will not exceed $50 million. Ground-breaking for the new medical center is expected in late June and the grand opening is slated for fall 2014.
“You can feel the energy and enthusiasm around here,” explained Dorothy Erdmann, CEO/administrator of Shawano Medical Center. “We are all so excited about how a new medical center will be much more convenient for patients and our staff who care for them.” The new medical center will be connected to the existing ThedaCare Physicians-Shawano clinic. It will also house rehabilitation services, ThedaCare At Home-Shawano, ThedaCare At Work-Shawano and the Shawano Surgery Center.
As more precise plans are developed, small employee groups at Shawano Medical Center and ThedaCare Physicians-Shawano will meet to determine the details for specific rooms that maximize staff efficiency and patient comfort.
Bill Mann, senior vice president of ThedaCare, emphasized that the goal is to keep excellent health care close to home. “This new medical center is a tangible symbol of our commitment to the people of Shawano and the surrounding region to provide the highest quality care in their own community, while connecting them to our larger network of ThedaCare specialists and resources.” He further explained that the consolidated physical design of the new ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano will facilitate changes in health care that help people get well and stay well. In addition, the focus of the new building is one of sustainability and energy efficiency which is value added for the community by reducing our carbon footprint
Simultaneously, the Shawano Medical Center Foundation is planning a capital campaign to support the new construction project. Redevelopment plans for the old Shawano Medical Center are progressing as the title search for the property is carried out. The land for the existing hospital was donated by the city more than a century ago, and ThedaCare is working with the municipality on an overall plan to determine the land’s highest and best use.
ThedaCare (www.thedacare.org) is a community-owned health system consisting of Appleton Medical Center, Theda Clark Medical Center, New London Family Medical Center, Riverside Medical Center in Waupaca, ThedaCare Physicians, Ingenuity First, and other health care services. ThedaCare is the largest employer in Northeast Wisconsin with nearly 5,400 employees. To get the latest health news, follow ThedaCare on Facebook and Twitter.
