On Wednesday evening, RiverView Health held a grand opening celebration for the new RiverView 2020 hospital and clinic. RiverView staff, partners, and community members joined in the celebration held in the parking lot due to COVID-19.
The event program ended with Betty Juve, who turns 91 this week and is celebrating her 42nd year as an employee at RiverView Health, cutting the ribbon. A fireworks display was then held over the Red Lake River adjacent to the hospital.
RiverView CEO Carrie Michalski said it was a historic night for RiverView and Crookston. “It’s been a tremendous event,” said Michalski. “Too look out and see all the community scattered throughout the parking lot and in their vehicles, and to be able to listen and watch with your help, it’s a little bit overwhelming tonight. We’re on a historic moment and we are prepared as a health care team to continue to deliver exceptional care for our patients. This building will just create the environment that will allow us to do that job even better.”
The staff continues to prepare for the first patients in the new facility, which Michalski said will come in just a couple of weeks. “Sunday, October 25 anybody that’s in our hospital care will move over,” said Michalski. “And then, Monday morning, October 26, any scheduled appointments will enter this brand-new lobby.”
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Colin Fennell said the hospital facility is a reflection of the evolution of excellent care at RiverView. “It’s so special for Crookston,” said Fennell. “We’ve seen an evolution of the health care develop here over the last couple of decades. This is the culmination of the efforts of hundreds and hundreds of people who’ve put so much time and effort into seeing the consistency of the development of a high standard of health care for Crookston. The people of Crookston have to understand that we’ve now developed what is one of the premier medical services in the entire upper Minnesota region. The hospital is still just one portion of that. Hospitals at the end of the day are still just buildings but they are manned by people that have dedication for their service. Within that, we’ve now developed a very high level of care for a variety of services. We’re still a small town, so we can’t do everything, but the things we do, we do as well as anybody anywhere in the country. This new building is just a reflection of that excellence we’re providing to Crookston.”
Fennell said he thinks people will see the attention paid to the details of making a visit convenient for patients. “I’ve been in a lot of buildings over the years and this is one of the nicest ones I’ve ever been in,” said Fennell. “Hopefully, people will see it reflected that there has been a lot of attention paid to the detail for the patients to make it convenient and easy for them. I think that will show when people will come year. They’ll see a modern, bright place for them to come to receive their medical care.”
The RiverView Board of Directors Chair Andy Oman called it a monumental moment for the Crookston community. “It’s been a long time coming,” said Oman. “It sure is exciting. It sure is phenomenal to be part of this great organization and see this work. It seems like its been going on for over three years finally come to fruition and have a final product that’s going to rock this place. It’s a really monumental moment for Crookston and the surrounding area. It’s amazing with a community this size how people come together and make a facility like this that’s world-class. It’s going to attract more people to the community, doctors, and great health care in this area. That was the goal from the beginning and we’re so thankful and it’s done right.”
Jason Toso, Mortenson Construction project manager, who had been with the project for several years since the design phase called the construction of a state-of-the-art hospital in Crookston a career-defining event. “These are such great moments,” said Toso. “It is just – I know I’ve used this word several times in interviews with you – but just surreal. From the planning stages to sitting out front and be here to see the excitement of the community. I love it. It’s the greatest part and why we do it. I can’t say thank you enough for being a part of it. And I’m just so happy that the community has really embraced it. They maintained their excitement throughout and that was awesome. And a great team – HGA Architects and the RiverView team and all of our trade partners. It was a real defining career moment for me.”
RiverView 2020 is a $51 million project consisting of an 80,0000 square foot, two-story building to replace RiverView’s current hospital and clinics. The upper level of the building consists of the Inpatient Unit with 18 universal patient rooms, three labor and delivery rooms, and four family suites. Every room has a private bathroom and a large floor plan to allow caregivers adequate space to provide patient care and room to ensure family and friends are comfortable. The ground level is home to all three of RiverView’s current Crookston clinics consolidated into one large clinic. The new clinic has 48 exam rooms, four procedure rooms, and four consultation rooms. The project also includes a lobby café, relocated gift shop, and an 80-occupant training and conference center.
The new facility is scheduled to open on October 25.
