Our History
The first hospital in Ortonville was built in the summer of 1906 at a cost of about $15,000. It was a brick construction building with granite trim. The hospital had 14 rooms for patients (average size 9 feet by 10 feet) with three rooms large enough for more than one bed; a waiting room on the first floor; an operating room on second floor, (12 feet by 14 feet) with ample sky-light; bath rooms on both floors; and a kitchen, dining room, laundry and furnace room in the basement with room for storage.Dr. Jacob Karn and Dr. Charles Bolsta built and owned the first hospital, one block from Main Street and overlooking the City Park, in what was known until 1919 as the Grand View Hospital. Miss Josephine Bolsta, R.N., sister of Dr. Bolsta, was the first Superintendent and continued in that capacity until her death in 1918.
In the early years, a training school for nurses was conducted. In 1919, the hospital was sold to the Evangelical Conference of South Dakota and was operated under the name of the Ortonville Evangelical Hospital. In 1944, it was sold back to Dr. Bolsta and Dr. Bert Karn, who donated it to the City of Ortonville in 1944. It was then known as the Ortonville Community Hospital until 1953, when it was sold to a private party for a Nursing Home.
Construction began on the current thirty-two bed hospital at 450 Eastvold Avenue in late 1950. A disastrous fire on February 1, 1951 delayed construction delaying the open of the new Ortonville Municipal Hospital until March 30, 1952. Fifteen years later, a $500,000 bond issue financed expansion and remodeling. An open house for the forty-five bed facility was held on September 10, 1970.
One wing was used for skilled nursing care for the elderly from 1976 until 1978. The cornerstone of Ortonville's seventy-four bed nursing home was placed on September 11, 1977 and Northridge Residence at 1075 Roy Street was opened to the public on March 23, 1978. A renovation of the thirty-year old part of the Ortonville Hospital brought it into compliance with current building codes in 1984. Although the changes were largely in the heating, ventilation and fire-prevention systems, they were also designed to enhance the work flow to increase safety and efficiency for both staff and patients. Visible are the new intensive care unit, the relocated nursery and the necessary redecoration of that area.
The Home Health Agency opened in 1988. In June 2000, groundbreaking was held for the Outpatient Services Center. This new building, attached to the current hospital, will be home for Northside Medical Center, Big Stone Therapies, Inc., cardiac rehabilitation, the chemotherapy suite and the radiology department. This is Phase I of the building plans for Ortonville Hospital.
Since February 1, 1998, Ortonville Area Health Services has been a member of Sanford Health of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Hospital Building Replacement Plans - To Build or Not to Build....
In 1999, while planning for the region's healthcare future, the OAHS Health Care Board completed a master facility plan encompassing the ultimate complete replacement of the original 1952 hospital and clinic to be accomplished in phases. As the first phase began, the new building designed for clinic and therapies was expanded to include the oncology, outreach services and radiology areas, which were part of the second phase in the original plan. This initial phase was completed in 2003, with the final phase on the near horizon.
In January of 2006, for multiple reasons, bids were requested from architectural firms to provide professional guidance to assist OAHS in determining options related to recently identified building needs and to update the facilities 1999 Building Master Plan. Given the options available and the costs of repair and remodeling and the factors below, the Health Care Board unanimously approved to move towards completing the final phase of the building replacement plan.
Many reasons were identified and given due consideration in terming that our best option is building replacement.
Condition and Age of Building
The original structure for the hospital was built in 1952, making that part of the building 54 years old. Fifty years ago, buildings were designed for inpatients. Our current demographics are 70 percent outpatient volume. Life Safety Codes are grandfathered in UNLESS remodeling occurs. At that time, all Life Safety Codes must be updated to current regulations resulting in significant dollars spent "behind the walls." Other issues including ADA compliance, temperature control problems, air handlers and chillers beyond useful life, etc. all impact the decision-making.
Competition
OAHS prides itself on its ability to offer state-of-the-art technology, however, the current building is not conducive to installing such technology. Customers expect and deserve the newest technology for diagnosing and treating and, if that is offered locally, they will go elsewhere to get it.
Market Share
Replacement would allow OAHS to expand and/or improve many of its current services, as well as increase surgical capacity and medical technologies
Recruitment & Retention
The ability to recruit and retain high caliber physician and clinical staff is enhanced with a newer facility that offers the latest in technology, workflow, etc. It will also improve staff effectiveness and efficiency.
Other Considerations
The financial status of OAHS indicates that the organization will be able to manage the debt service. Remodeling would put OAHS farther behind in the facility replacement and those dollars spent remodeling would be wasted if the building replacement is planned for in 5-8 years.
Significant analysis and reviews have occurred to enable OAHS in determining a project of this magnitude is feasible. The Health Care Board has reviewed each step in the decision process and given its approval and recommendations to the Ortonville City Council for their review and ultimate approval.
OAHS plans to keep the public informed through communication in The Monitor, on Healthcorner, in the Ortonville Independent and on the OAHS website. If you have questions regarding the building replacement, please feel free to contact Rick Ash, CEO at 320-839-4127 or by email.