Officials with the Cass County Memorial Hospital say the Cass County Health System will be hosting a community open house on Thursday, January 16, from 3 – 6 pm. Visitors will be able to tour the newly added and renovated areas of the facility. Tours will be self-guided, with staff on hand to give directions and answer questions about the changes.

The $22.5 million dollar addition and renovation project began with a groundbreaking in March 2011. The early phases of the project included relocating the helipad and then adding on a two-story addition. The addition opened in June 2012 and houses the Emergency Department and surgical services on the first floor. The second floor is the Inpatient Services Department – medical/surgical, special care and obstetrics.

After the addition was complete, an extensive remodeling of the existing building began. Some departments were relocated, a number of areas were expanded, and some received cosmetic updates. Major changes to patient areas included expanding the Outpatient Clinic, Cardiac Rehab, Diabetes Center and Atlantic Medical Center. Rehabilitation Services moved into the former OB and Surgery Departments, which allowed room for expanding existing therapy specialties and adding a hydrotherapy pool. Once all the departments were relocated, the original inpatient wings were demolished, due to the age of facility and the expense needed to bring it up to current standards and codes.

As the original project neared completion, the Board of Trustees felt the hospital’s strong financial position allowed for a few additional projects. Most significantly, an in-house MRI suite was developed, which was put into service in late December 2013. A new chapel area was designed near the patient rooms, surgery and emergency waiting areas. There are still a few areas left to receive new floor and wall coverings, primarily interior corridors and offices, and the cafeteria. Those projects are expected to be completed by late March.