MASON CITY – Mercy Medical Center today broke ground on its new Behavioral Health Center expansion.
The addition was announced in August by CEO Dan Varnum at a press conference held at the hospital. It will cost $10.7 million to build, he said then. The expansion will allow Mercy to increase Behavioral Health services to its patients. The addition will be located next to the hospital’s Emergency Department. Construction is expected to begin soon. It will be located near the Emergency Room area and will be 27,000 square feet.
The new addition will serve both in-patient and out-patient services. Current services for behavioral health on the 5 East and 5 South floors will be relocated to this new area.
CEO Varnum thanked local citizen Wally Smeby for a contribution of $900,000 from a foundation he set up that will go towards the project.
Tuesday, Mr. Smeby said vis social media “A great day for Mental Health. Glad that I could help Mercy break ground for this addition. It’s Brick and mortar but inside it’s services for the future!”