Freeman Health System has announced the ground-breaking of the new $168m full-service Freeman Southeast Kansas Hospital in the US.
The ceremony, led by Freeman president and CEO Paula Baker, marked the start of construction for the 50-bed, 170,000ft² hospital.
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The facility is set to address a substantial healthcare demand.
Baker said: “Today we mark a historical first for Freeman Health System and the entire region.
“We’re honoured and grateful for this opportunity to improve healthcare in Southeast Kansas and beyond.”
The design of the hospital has been entrusted to HMN Architects, with the construction planned to take place in three stages over 24 to 34 months.
The phases will cover utilities, site development and roadways, building a two-storey ambulatory surgery centre, and the construction of the hospital itself.
This new Freeman hospital is set to provide emergency and cardiac care, with a catheterisation lab, an ICU, maternity and paediatric services, and outpatient and inpatient surgery, including medical and radiation oncology, robotic procedures, radiology, pulmonary care, and other essential services.
Collaboration between Freeman engineers and the City of Frontenac is underway to enhance sewer and water infrastructure, ensuring it meets the future needs of the hospital and the community.
Baker added: “Frontenac officials began planning for water and sewer upgrades several years before we selected this site.”
In addition, Freeman Health System is working with the Kansas Department of Transportation and has undertaken a traffic impact study in anticipation of increased traffic flow to the hospital site.
The hospital is anticipated to generate between 500 and 1,000 jobs.
Freeman Health System already provides speciality and primary care clinics, an outpatient surgery centre, and a medical oncology programme in Southeast Kansas.
A new emergency department and a ten-bed acute care hospital are also set to open in Fort Scott, Kansas, later this year.
