The U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded $56.24 million to the Rugby, N.D.-based Good Samaritan Hospital Association to build a new critical access hospital and emergency room, according to an Oct. 25 news release.
The new facility at the Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby will include a critical access hospital, emergency room, procedure suite, imaging, lab, pharmacy, and business office. It will include 25 beds and a clinic area to continue care in the region. The project is estimated to benefit more than 12,500 rural residents.
USDA Rural Development State Director Erin Oban said that people living in North Dakota deserve high-quality healthcare and dedicated health professionals.
"Eliminating transportation barriers and reducing drive times to see a doctor quite literally saves lives. USDA Rural Development is committed to ensuring that health care can continue to be accessed and delivered directly in and nearest to the communities in which people live. We celebrate this crucial investment in the workforce, the community, and the nearly 13,000 North Dakotans who receive care and are served by the Heart of America Medical Center," said Ms. Oban.