Avera Gregory Breaks Ground on New Health Campus

Today, Avera Gregory Hospital broke ground on a new health campus on 12 acres of land east of Gregory on U.S. Highway 18.

This $39.4 million project will integrate a 17-bed hospital, 30-bed long-term care center and a clinic that will accommodate local providers and visiting outreach specialists, inside space totaling over 88,000 square feet.

'Having one health campus in Gregory will allow us to efficiently integrate all of our care,' said Tony Timanus, CEO of Avera Gregory Hospital. 'It will double our current space and accommodate the latest technology and evidence-based medical practices.'

Features include a 24-hour emergency room, diagnostic imaging center, larger surgical suite and post-surgical rooms, enhanced dialysis center, helipad and connection to telemedicine services. Having all sites on one campus will eliminate duplication of services such as laboratory and imaging.

'We are amazed at the generosity of many donors who came forward to invest in this project that will help ensure we have state-of-the-art health care, here in Gregory, for decades to come,' Timanus said. A fund drive has raised over $3.525 million, exceeding the goal of $3 million. Avera will provide $9 million and the remainder will be financed over time.

Avera has a long history of investing in regional facilities like Avera Gregory. 'The key reason Avera makes these investments is so residents of our entire region have access to quality health care, in or near their home town,' said David Flicek, President and CEO of Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center. 'We also partner with local physicians, advanced practice providers and nurses who, each day, are delivering care, for their friends and neighbors.'

Avera Gregory has been part of the Avera system since 2002. 'We are grateful to Avera for their strong commitment to strengthening rural health care. Avera Gregory has been nationally recognized for our quality of care. Having a modern facility with a design for the future of rural care will help with physician and employee recruitment and retention, because it will give well-qualified health care professionals a quality place in which to practice medicine,' Timanus said.

The long-term care center is expected to be complete in fall of 2022 and the hospital and clinic in spring of 2023.