(MONROE, WI)-May 2, 2008-Over the past several months, Monroe Clinic's Board of Directors, management, staff, architects and construction managers have worked to finalize details of the organization's master facility expansion project. Recently, a decision was made to increase the scope of that project. The organization's Board of Directors and its sponsor, the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes, recently approved a budget of $85 million for a revised master facility plan. This budget represents a project cap, and will not be exceeded.

The original plan for expansion arose from a need to accommodate current and future growth, along with a need to update aging facilities to provide the community with exceptional healthcare, and an exceptional patient experience.

According to Monroe Clinic President and CEO Mike Sanders, "While planning this project, it became clear that meeting the current and future medical needs of the community requires a different facility than originally envisioned. The original plan was determined to be riskier and more expensive in the long run as it required renovation of existing, older structures as well as adding a new structure. The renovated buildings would then need to be replaced in another 15 to 20 years due to their age. The new building we are now planning will allow us to build more effectively for the future, rather than trying to renovate old space for tomorrow's needs."

Sanders added, "To keep costs in line, Monroe Clinic is committed to continuously improving operational efficiency. The new building provides an efficient option for growth, while reducing our operational costs. This will allow us to keep our rates competitive."

Board Chairperson Jim Lee agrees, "The increasing cost of money in the future, and the inefficiencies of renovating old structures with limited life spans make it clear that investing additional funds in the present is the most cost effective solution."

According to Lee, "This plan also represents less disruption to Monroe Clinic's patients. The original project would have involved numerous phases of construction and renovation, with departments moving from one location to another. The new project will allow a smoother transition with less interruption in care."

The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes wholeheartedly supports the expanded project. "High quality, accessible, and affordable health care is a basic human right and critical to the overall well-being of the community," said Sister Mary Noel Brown.

"The expanded project will include built-in flexibility, which means that Monroe Clinic will be well positioned to respond quickly and cost efficiently to the community's future needs. So while we will invest more now, the new facility will help us continue our mission of providing compassionate care in an environment that attends to the holistic health needs of each person, thereby fostering healing and creating healthy communities through God's healing spirit for many years to come," said Brown.

And what is good for the community is good for Monroe Clinic.

The new building will house both inpatient and outpatient services, and will provide expanded and more convenient access to care, including a planned helipad to be located near a new ER department. As with the previous plan, 5th Street will become part of the Monroe Clinic campus. More project details, including architectural drawings, will be released in the fall.