The sign on the front door says it all, “The excitement is building…
Be a part of the excitement while we create a whole new look just for you!
Please, pardon our appearance during this transformation. CHI Health St. Alexius Emergency Department.”
The sign bears two little graphics depicting workers in hard hats with the word “McCarthy” underneath flank the notice.
At the community information forum held Monday, Nov. 20 in the Hofstad Ag Building on the LRSC campus, Tim Bricker, President and CEO of CommonSpirit Health, Midwest Division promised “work would begin on the hospital’s emergency department on Dec. 18.”
Jeff Orvedal is the facility director for CHI Health St. Alexius Devils Lake Hospital. He’s been in that position since 2017 and he met with the Journal on Monday to discuss the plans for renovating the hospital’s Emergency Department.
Monday was Dec. 18.
As promised, Orvedal explained that they were taking the first steps after meeting all the requirements for the permitting required from the state and city. Workmen lugging cable and tools were spotted in the main floor corridor, evidence that Bricker’s promise that work would begin at the hospital on Dec. 18 was taking place.
A promise fulfilled.
Orvedal continued to explain that once the cables were laid, the space that formerly had been the main entrance to the hospital would be relocated to a new entrance, where the public now accesses the VA Clinic, beside the hospital’s gift shop, east of the present main entrance. The administration offices and meeting rooms will all be relocated closer to the new entrance, as well.The former entrance would be closed to the public and that area restricted as work begins in earnest in the rehabilitation area.
Unable to locate the artist’s renderings of the project, Orvedal hand drew a rough sketch of the space involved in this, the first phase of the actual larger remodel project. The space formerly used as therapy or rehab is a large area to the left of the admission’s office. Once renovation of that space is completed the wall between the former emergency room and the new emergency space will be removed more than doubling the space. Orvedal didn’t have a timeline for when this first phase will be done, exactly, stating that today’s was just a first step in the journey.
The Journal will attempt to keep you informed of what is happening and the progress they are making. Both Orvedal in Devils Lake at the hospital and Mary Williams, Division Director of Public Relations and Communications for CommonSpirit of Omaha, NE, will help along the way.
