Groundbreaking first incision for surgical expansion
Project to add 2,000 square feet to medical center
BACK ROW (L to R): Jennifer Brehmer, Sophie Dancho, Jessica Frenning, Tracy Berg, Kelly Hillesheim, Laura Braulick, Cheyenne Lovell, Lacey Thornton, Jennifer Raines, Crystal Kienlen, Bridget Reinhart, Gerry Wovcha, Brittany Haala, Amanda Renner, Dr. Ben Tonsager, Dr. Phong Truong, Dr. Andrew Highum, Collin Phillips, Ryan Simpson, Tom Larson, Carisa Buegler FRONT ROW (L to R): Jessica Sellner, Camryn Kraus, Amanda Kral, Deb Tauer, Dr. Kellie Newman, Alicia Forstner, Dr. Natalia Kramarevsky, Erika Hoffmann, Jennifer Beranek, Dustin Wilfahrt
NEW ULM – A groundbreaking ceremony for New Ulm Medical Center’s (NUMC) surgery expansion was held Thursday.
A few dozen members of NUMC attended the ceremony, with some medical personnel briefly taking up the shovel for the afternoon. Construction on the expansion officially started in early August.
NUMC director of operations Carisa Buegler said the expansion will add 2,000 square feet to the foot of NUMC. The addition is located on the backside of the hospital.
The expansion includes a fourth operating room, a procedure room, four surgery patient rooms for patient prep and recovery; expand the sterile processing area for instrument cleaning and sterilization; relocate the surgery waiting room; storage for new equipment and renovating an existing operating room.
Dr. Kellie Newman said this expansion has been in the planning and design phase for a few years, but funding became available this year. Staff were part of the design process for the expansion.
A special groundbreaking ceremony was held for the expansion of New Ulm Medical Centers (NUMC) surgical unit. Several of the staff who will be working in the expansion attended the ceremony. Camryn Kraus, RN, Deb Tauer, LPN, Dr. Kellie Newman, General Surgeon, Alicia Forstner, Mgr Perioperative Services, Dr. Natalia Kramarevsky, Ophthalmologist each tossed a shovel full of dirt during the ceremony.
The main reason for the expansion was to increase the amount of operating room availability at NUMC. Currently there are three operating rooms. The creation of a fourth will increase the amount of operation that can be performed in New Ulm.
“[Patients] won’t have to wait as long for a surgical appointment,” Newman said.
This will also increase the number surgical specialties such as breast surgery, podiatry, gynecology, obstetrics, orthopedics, ophthalmology and urology.
The creation of new procedure room will alleviate pressure on the emergency room (ER). Currently, NUMC’s surgical procedure room is located in the ER. The procedure room is used for less invasive procedures. Having the procedure room in the surgical wing will create better efficiency.
“This is exciting for NUMC,” Newman said.
Construction will be limited to the exterior of the building through most of September with interior renovations beginning as early as October. Interior renovation will include a new surgery patient room, waiting room and procedure room.
By spring 2025, renovation will start on the current operating room. The project should be finished by Dec. 2025.
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- BACK ROW (L to R): Jennifer Brehmer, Sophie Dancho, Jessica Frenning, Tracy Berg, Kelly Hillesheim, Laura Braulick, Cheyenne Lovell, Lacey Thornton, Jennifer Raines, Crystal Kienlen, Bridget Reinhart, Gerry Wovcha, Brittany Haala, Amanda Renner, Dr. Ben Tonsager, Dr. Phong Truong, Dr. Andrew Highum, Collin Phillips, Ryan Simpson, Tom Larson, Carisa Buegler FRONT ROW (L to R): Jessica Sellner, Camryn Kraus, Amanda Kral, Deb Tauer, Dr. Kellie Newman, Alicia Forstner, Dr. Natalia Kramarevsky, Erika Hoffmann, Jennifer Beranek, Dustin Wilfahrt
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- A special groundbreaking ceremony was held for the expansion of New Ulm Medical Centers (NUMC) surgical unit. Several of the staff who will be working in the expansion attended the ceremony. Camryn Kraus, RN, Deb Tauer, LPN, Dr. Kellie Newman, General Surgeon, Alicia Forstner, Mgr Perioperative Services, Dr. Natalia Kramarevsky, Ophthalmologist each tossed a shovel full of dirt during the ceremony.
