Mercy has secured approval for its plan to establish a new medical campus in Wentzville, Missouri.

The Missouri Facilities Review Committee unanimously approved the project on 29 July, paving the way for ground-breaking in the coming months.

However, the date of the start of construction work is yet to be decided.  

Mercy anticipates the construction work to span for around four years.

The approval for the $650m medical campus follows Mercy's submission of a letter of intent to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services in April.

The company also carried out extensive community engagement efforts through roundtable discussions in Lincoln, St Charles, and Warren counties, to which the hospital is expected to cater.

All these discussions were aimed at understanding the healthcare needs of area residents.

The 425,000ft² hospital will have 75 inpatient medical/surgical beds, 18 observation beds, and a 28-bay emergency department, which will also include two trauma bays.

Mercy Wentzville will also offer a range of speciality care services such as cancer, cardiovascular, and orthopaedics, alongside other diagnostic, outpatient imaging and treatment services.

Mercy president and CEO Steve Mackin said: “Securing the state’s certificate of need approval marks a pivotal milestone, ensuring that patients in the tri-county area will soon have access to care closer to home.”

Located strategically at the intersection of Interstates 64 and 70, the Mercy Hospital Wentzville will be Missouri's first entirely new acute care hospital campus since 2015.

This follows the opening of Mercy's hospital in Joplin, which was constructed in the aftermath of the 2011 tornado.

For the architecture and design of the new campus, Mercy is partnering with Cannon Design.

The project will also demonstrate a commitment to the local economy by utilising 100% local union labour for its construction.

Wentzville Mayor Nick Guccione said: “The Certificate of Need approval for Mercy’s new hospital in Wentzville will significantly enhance access to healthcare closer to where our residents live.

“The hospital will not only meet the urgent health care needs of our rapidly growing population but also create hundreds of jobs, fostering economic development. Mercy’s new hospital aligns perfectly with our goal of establishing Wentzville as a regional destination and promoting economic vitality.”