Avera Health, Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital
Replacement Critical Access Hospital
Rock Rapids, Iowa
Faced with an undersized 60-year-old facility near the end of its useful life, Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital selected BWBR to create a new care center on a greenfield site. The new campus complements the rich heritage and vibrant growth of this rural Iowa community, while attracting new patients, high-quality care providers, and staff.
The replacement Critical Access Hospital with integrated clinic accomplishes several goals, including optimized flow and function through a Lean-designed floor plan with logical departmental adjacencies. Additionally, spacious patient rooms offer homey comforts for those in need of longer stays. Each room provides a dedicated staffing zone, ample space for families, abundant natural light, and a private bathroom.
The entire campus is designed for expansion, with departments anticipating future growth — such as clinic and imaging — placed on the exterior walls. Flexibly balancing today with tomorrow, this community hub enthusiastically promotes wellness, a continuum of care, and generational health.
Size: 51,700 sq. ft.
Components: Eight-bed Critical Access Hospital, expandable to 11 beds; emergency department; surgery suite; imaging; rehabilitation; patient rooms that accommodate bariatric patients with oversized doors and large private bathrooms; lab; café and public dining; administration and support spaces
Completion: 2019
Jason Nordling
Scott Holmes (retired)
Stephanie Alstead
Steve Busse
Bryan Desma
Lauren Frank
Matt Gerstner
Allen Hoglund (retired)
Dave Leighly
Inga Oelschlager (retired)
Dan Sterner
Jennifer Ukura