For immediate release: April 13, 2012

Contact: Fiona Libsack, 970.391.1253 fbl1@pvhs.org

Poudre Valley Health System will host a groundbreaking ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, for its emergency and surgery center currently under development in Greeley's North Gate Village, next to King Soopers Marketplace, on the southeast corner of 71st Avenue and 10th Street.

"We are excited about the benefits this facility will provide," said Dr. James Campain, who worked in Greeley for 18 years and is now with Emergency Physicians of the Rockies. "By expanding the emergency services available in Weld County, we expect to reduce the amount of time patients have to wait to receive emergency medical care."

The 22,000-square-foot facility with an estimated cost of $15 million is scheduled to open in November 2012 and will be divided into two main areas. One section will house an emergency care center that will include 10 examination rooms, two pediatric exam rooms, a resuscitation room and laboratory. The diagnostic imaging area will include X-ray, ultrasound, CT and MRI. The building also will feature a covered ambulance bay for easy emergency access in and out of the facility.

The same-day surgery center, located on the west side of the building, will include three preparatory areas, two operating rooms, recovery areas and an observation room.

"The space will allow local surgeons to serve the needs of their patients close to home," said Dr. Les Fraser, a longtime Greeley-based general surgeon with Poudre Valley Medical Group.

GE Johnson has been hired as the general contractor, H+L Architects designed the facility, and
Cator Ruma has been secured as the project engineer.

--PVHS--