Groundbreaking: SIU, HSHS plan new outpatient clinic for women, children

HSHS St. John’s Hospital broke ground June 27 on a new outpatient center. The 85,000-square-foot outpatient center set to open in 2018 will house providers from SIU Medicine and HSHS Medical Group and provide comprehensive services for women and children.“Providing access, convenience and the best possible care for our patients has been at the forefront of our minds in this planning process,” said Charles L. Lucore, president and CEO of HSHS St. John’s Hospital.

This $48.4 million project includes a four-story medical facility, parking garage and a sky bridge across Ninth Street that will connect to St. John’s Children’s Hospital. Patients and families coming to the new outpatient center will have access to a lab and pharmacy; pediatric rehabilitation with an expanded therapy gym; pediatric cardiology services and diagnostic testing; mammography and other imaging tests; pediatric orthopedics and general surgery; maternal-fetal medicine; pediatric multi-specialty clinic; plus obstetrics and gynecology.

“Collaborative spaces help break down barriers among physicians and improve the patient experience,” said Jerry Kruse, MD, MSPH, dean of SIU School of Medicine and CEO of SIU Medicine. “It also will be an effective space to recruit to continue to provide high-quality, efficient care for our patients and an outstanding learning environment for our students.”

The HSHS St. John’s Hospital Outpatient Center for Women and Children is expected to be completed in August 2018.