Construction work has officially commenced on a significant $7.9m expansion and renovation project at the Labette Health Independence Healthcare Center in Kanas, US.
The start of construction work was marked by a ground-breaking ceremony.
This event was attended by Kansas Governor Laura Kelly, alongside Labette Health officials and representatives from local and state governments.
Expansion of the Labette Health Independence Healthcare Center will introduce a new Cancer Infusion Center, a Rural Health Clinic, as well as other advanced laboratories for complex patient testing.
In addition to these new facilities, the renovation will enhance the emergency department and create 17 new patient exam rooms.
The effort will also focus on enhancing outpatient ultrasound services.
The construction, which started on 1 August 2024, is on track for completion by 1 June 2025.
Kelly said: “The Independence Healthcare Center expansion represents a big step forward in building a more robust healthcare system in Kansas’ rural areas.
“The next critical step we must take to increase access to care, strengthen our health care workforce, and support our rural hospitals is to expand Medicaid.”
The project addresses a critical need for healthcare services in the region following the closure of Mercy Hospital nine years ago, which left residents of Independence and surrounding areas without a primary healthcare provider.
Labette Health responded by opening the Independence Healthcare Center in 2017, offering essential medical services and healthcare employment to the community.
Labette Health, a 99-bed hospital in south-east Kansas, has been serving a six-county area since 1961.
Positioned at the southern edge of Parsons, Labette Health is a regional medical centre known for its comprehensive healthcare services, skilled staff, and medical technology.
Labette Health president and CEO Brian Williams said: “This expansion and renovation project marks a significant step in our collective journey to ensuring access to high-quality health care for all members of the surrounding communities.
“This event represents a profound dedication to meeting the diverse and evolving healthcare needs of south-east Kansans.”
