Essentia Health Duluth Sets First Patient Day For Replacement St. Mary’s Medical Center
Recently, Essentia Health in Duluth announced the improvements that would be found at the replacement of St. Mary's Medical Center, located at 402 E. 2nd Street in Duluth. At that time, they had anticipated the new facility would treat its first patient in the third quarter of this year.
That goal is going to be a reality as they've officially set the first patient day at the replacement St. Mary’s Medical Center and it's coming up soon, a date that is four years after ground was broken on Essentia Health’s $900 million Vision Northland project, which represents the largest private investment in Duluth’s history.
According to their news release, the replacement hospital and accompanying clinic reached the “substantial completion” milestone in early March. Since then, their team has been working hard to familiarize themselves with the building and its impressive array of new technology, along with moving in furniture, hanging artwork, and putting the finishing touches on 942,000 square feet of newly built space.
“I have the deepest gratitude for my colleagues who helped to design this space, for the construction workers who made this a reality, and for the community for their support during the construction. St. Mary’s Medical Center, and those who serve within its walls, will continue to provide great care for generations to come,” said Essentia Health CEO Dr. David Herman.
The replacement St. Mary’s Medical Center is set to welcome its first patients on Sunday, July 30.
Patients will be moved from the legacy hospital to the new St. Mary’s throughout the day on July 30. The planning for this move started not long after the project’s groundbreaking in September 2019.
Essential proudly states that with "state-of-the-art technology, single-patient rooms, breathtaking views of Lake Superior and Duluth’s hillside, plus other amenities such as valet parking, the replacement St. Mary’s will be an inviting space that enhances health outcomes" for their patients. It features 13 birth suites and 16 operating rooms, all designed to deliver the highest quality care.
They add that of the new hospital’s 344 rooms, 342 are private. The two rooms designed to accommodate more than one patient are for sets of twins or other multiple births.
The public is invited to a ribbon-cutting and related celebrations this week. That includes a community open house, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, July 21.
Attendees are asked to use the main entrance on 2nd Street. While there will be limited street parking available, the following ramps will be available:
- The Green Ramp: This ramp is adjacent to the Duluth Clinic’s Third Street Building and connected by skywalks to the Second Street Building and First Street Building.
- The Red Ramp: The ramp at the corner of East Fourth Street and Fourth Avenue East
- The city-owned ramp at 302 E. 1st Street, located across from the Duluth Clinic’s First Street entrance. Keep in mind you'll need to use the main entrance on 2nd Street for the open house.