By Lori EhdeAfter months of construction and years of planning and anticipation, the new Sioux Valley Luverne Medical Center is about to open.A public open house will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 17, in the new facility on North Highway 75 in Luverne.Members of the VFW and American Legion will raise the flags at 1 p.m. and tours of the hospital and clinic will follow throughout the afternoon and evening.Staff and volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and offer tours, but visitors will be able to take self-guided tours as well.According to Jerry Carl, CEO of Luverne Sioux Valley Hospital, the open house will be a way to thank the community for supporting the project."I think what we really want is to honor the citizens," Carl said. "It’s something that they initially said was OK for us to do and actually put up their money for us to get it done."Carl has been monitoring the various stages of construction and recently toured the facility in its near-finished stages."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," Carl said. "I think they will be pleased with what they see."Official move-in for medical professionals and staff will begin July 18 and continue until the first official day of business July 29.The new Sioux Valley Luverne Hospital will be a 25-bed hospital with modern birthing suites, 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 has 36 exam rooms, four procedure rooms and 10 physician offices.Refreshments and free gifts will be offered as part of the public open house activities.See next week’s Star Herald for a special edition on the new $18 million hospital and clinic. The 24-page broadsheet insert will feature highlights of the new facility and will chronicle the stages of planning and construction that led to the finished product to date.
