CMH sets grand opening for new hospital tower

Citizens Memorial Hospital is ready to show off its multimillion-dollar expansion project to the public, as a grand opening for its new tower is set for Feb. 28.

The come-and-go event at 1500 N. Oakland Ave. in Bolivar is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and will include an open house, refreshments and guided tours, according to a news release. CMH officials note the $100 million expansion and renovation project began with a groundbreaking ceremony in September 2023. The three-story, roughly 117,000-square-foot addition on the south side of the hospital doubles its size.

“It’s not often that a community the size of Bolivar has the opportunity to celebrate the opening of a new hospital, and we’re excited to share this milestone,” said Michael Calhoun, CEO and executive director of CMH and Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation, in the release. “The grand opening is a chance for our friends and neighbors to see the new hospital, learn about the care we provide and explore the spaces where we’ll serve the community for years to come, including a behind-the-scenes look at patient care areas.”

J.E. Dunn Construction Co. is general contractor for the project, while Overland Park, Kansas-based HMN Architects Inc. is architect and landscape architect is frankZdesign LLC, according to past Springfield Business Journal reporting.

Patient care areas moving to the new tower include an expanded emergency department, and medical/surgical, intensive care and birthing units with private rooms for patients. Additional features include a new hospital main entrance, kitchen, cafeteria and dining area, coffee shop and expanded gift shop, according to the release.

Officials say the new patient areas are scheduled to open in April. Renovations in the existing hospital are expected to wrap up by the end of this year and will include a surgical department expansion and two new cardiac catheterization laboratory procedure rooms. 

“We’ve grown a lot over the years at CMH, and this new hospital expansion reflects the services we provide to our community today,” Calhoun said in the release. “It also gives us room to grow in the future, so we can continue meeting the needs of our patients and families. Every space is brand new, thoughtfully designed and equipped with the latest in technology to support the best care possible.”

Advance registration is not required, officials say. However, visitors wishing to do so can RSVP at bit.ly/CMHOpenHouse. Attendees are asked to use the new hospital main entrance on North Butterfield Road.