US-based integrated healthcare system Essentia Health is set to begin developing an orthopaedic centre in Baxter, Minnesota, to treat patients in the Brainerd Lakes area.
Located at the former Camping World site, the facility will cover a total area of around 60,000ft² and provide a range of care services.
These will include orthopaedic surgery consultations, podiatry, rheumatology, endocrinology, interventional pain care, and sports medicine.
Diagnostic imaging services such as X-ray, MRI and fluoroscopy will also be available for treatment and rehabilitation purposes.
The renovated space will feature 72 exam and six procedure rooms, alongside both indoor and outdoor rehabilitation gyms.
For patients seeking treatment for orthopaedic injuries, the centre will offer the region's first specific orthopaedic urgent care programme.
It will also introduce Baxter's first drive-through pharmacy and expanded spine services, including the SpineX programme to aid those with back and neck pain.
While the centre will initially use 40,000ft² of the facility's space, there is the potential for future expansion based on patient demand.
To mark the start of development, Essentia Health is holding a public groundbreaking ceremony at the facility site on 13 May.
Essentia Health Operations vice-president Sandy Zutz-Wiczek said: “This groundbreaking marks a major milestone in our commitment to delivering exceptional, accessible care to the Brainerd Lakes area.
“By bringing together a broad range of specialty services under one roof, we’re creating a centre of excellence that reflects the evolving needs of our patients — all in a modern, state-of-the-art space designed to promote healing and recovery.”
The facility is part of Essentia Health's strategy to consolidate and enhance orthopaedic services in the Brainerd Lakes area, aiming to provide a one-stop solution for musculoskeletal conditions.
In August 2023, the healthcare system opened the St Mary's Medical Center in Duluth, Minnesota, as part of its $900m Vision Northland project.
