Trinity Health and the Trinity Health Foundation are planning a capital fund drive for a proposed new hospital in southwest Minot that's been in the works for some time.
Trinity Health Foundation has begun gathering thoughts from a broad mix of people and has sent out a first round of surveys to selected area businesses, said Randy Schwan, a Trinity vice-president. The foundation also will be talking with the medical community and other foundations and nonprofits as well as conducting a community survey. The foundation hopes to solicit feedback from throughout the Minot region. The healthcare center serves a 16-county region, including four counties in Montana.
Results of the surveys and discussions will be presented to the hospital board and the foundation on Jan. 25, Schwan said.
Trinity purchased the property where the new facility will be located in 2008.
"The facilities we have now can no longer support the care like they should," Schwan said, "and we are no longer able to keep up with what we're trying to do."
Trinity has been recruiting physicians for the new facility for the last few years.
There's been no decision on how much money to pursue in a capital fund drive. The cost of building a new medical facility is estimated in the $300 million to $400 million range, Schwan said. Plans for the layout design are in the works.
"This new facility is a vital aspect for this region," he noted. "We have a care system that's serving almost 200,000 people and we need to plan for that."
"We are committed to the fund drive and this needs to happen," Schwan added.
Additionally, Trinity is aware of the needs of the community, said Trinity Foundation director Jodi Smith, in regards to the recent flood. Any capital fund drive by the hospital would take into consideration other fund drives for projects important to the community, she said.
"It's important we we gauge the feeling of the community," Schwan said. "We need to elicit the support of the community," he said.