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Ten years ago on July 29, 2005, Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital opened its doors for its first official day of business in its new location on the north edge of Luverne.
“Not only is it a beautiful building, but it’s a neat thing that the community would put their trust in us to build it,” Jerry Carl was quoted as saying in a Star Herald interview prior to the opening. “I think they will be pleased with what they see.”
Carl, then hospital CEO, was among several who spoke at the September 2003 groundbreaking.
“It is only a structure,” Carl told the crowd gathered under a white tent next to a soybean field that would soon be home to the new hospital.
“Inside will be our caring, expert healthcare staff. … That’s what makes a healthy community, not the building.”
To observe the 10-year anniversary, Sanford Luverne (the organizational name changed in 2007) will host a celebration from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 29. Cake and ice cream will be served.
Background
The $17.8 million hospital and clinic opened its doors in July 2005 with roughly 95,000 square feet of space.
The new Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital opened as a 25-bed hospital with modern birthing suites (greeting 1,143 new babies in 10 years), a large outpatient rehabilitation area, in-house CAT scan technology, more comfort, privacy and a variety of other services.
The new Sioux Valley Clinic – Luverne offered 36 exam rooms, four procedure rooms and 10 physician offices.
The new building was more than twice the size of the previous land-locked hospital building, which is now Luverne City Hall and Minnesota West Community and Technical College.
In 2005, the hospital and clinic together employed 230 people, paying more than $8 million in salaries each year, with an overall budget of $15 million a year.
In addition to Sioux Valley’s $13 million investment in the project, a local fundraising campaign contributed $1 million in donations.
At the helm of that “Partnership Campaign” was the Luverne Community Healthcare Foundation, now known as the Luverne Area Community Foundation.
The City of Luverne supported the project through a $2.5 million grant (which includes taking over ownership of the old facilities), a $1 million interest-free loan and $2.45 million in infrastructure improvements.
Rock County’s contribution to the project included upgrading the half-mile stretch of gravel on the north edge of the site to an urban section of road.
The work, estimated to cost about $1.2 million, included building it up to a 9-ton paved road with curbs and gutters, plus sidewalks on the south side.
The county’s work also included cutting the hill down on Highway 75 at the intersection and putting in turn lanes on both Highway 75 and the new road.
Looking back on 10 years
Statistics as of 2014 show that the community investment has paid off through the years.
According to hospital sources, since 2005 the organization provided over $17.4 million in uncompensated care and $83,301 of services at free or at low cost to the community.
In addition, Sanford Luverne donated $10,000 to various community groups and organizations in the service area.
Current Sanford Luverne CEO Tammy Loosbrock said the 10-year anniversary is worth celebrating in a community that has played such a major role in its health care quality.
“The new facility has been a wonderful addition to the community and has allowed us to stay current with technology while meeting the needs of area residents,” Loosbrock said, encouraging the public to attend next week’s open house.
“Our greatest assets are the providers and staff who work hard every day to provide excellent care and make a difference in the community.
“As healthcare continues to change and evolve over the upcoming years, I look forward to seeing how our facility can continue to meet those needs and provide care locally.”
More about Sanford Luverne is available at sanfordluverne.org.