Mayo Clinic Health System has opened its newly expanded hospital bed tower on its campus in Mankato, Minnesota, US.

The expanded facility now features 121 additional hospital beds and a suite of other improvements, with staff and patients having begun the transition into the new space last month.

The $155m expansion involved adding three floors on top of a pre-existing two-storey structure on the campus, which hosts the Andreas Cancer Center, a Specialty Clinic foyer and an emergency department.

It aims to provide timely medical care, particularly during emergencies, epidemics and other health crises, by increasing the campus' bed capacity and enabling patients to stay closer to their homes.

Mayo Clinic Health System Southwest Minnesota regional vice-president James Hebl said: "We are excited to announce the opening of a beautiful new facility that not only expands and modernises our hospital but represents an ongoing commitment to the health and well-being of our community.

“The new hospital will ensure timely access to care while keeping patients close to home ― whether they need routine medical care, an advanced surgical procedure or emergency care.”

The new tower connects to the hospital and features an expanded intensive care unit and Progressive Care Unit, a Family Birth Center and a new Medical-Surgical Unit among other facilities.

The expansion project was announced in February 2022 and is part of Mayo Clinic’s Bold. Forward. initiative, which aims to integrate physical spaces and digital capabilities to meet patients’ changing needs.

Mayo Clinic president and CEO Gianrico Farrugia said: “With these state-of-the-art, flexible care spaces, combined with digitally integrated tools, we are expanding the scope and reach of our staff and enhancing collaboration across our sites, including with Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

“This digital and physical integration is helping us to blur lines between inpatient and outpatient care into a seamless care experience for patients and their families.”