Asante’s growth plan is beginning to take shape

If you’ve been to the Medford or Grants Pass campuses lately, you’ve likely seen a lot of construction. Over the next 10 years, Asante is embarking on its largest growth and development plan yet. It includes a $1 billion investment in the community for new construction, renovation, deferred maintenance, planned replacement, equipment and information technology.

Access to health services is a driving force behind these plans, which encompass Jackson and Josephine counties. Not only is access a strategic goal for Asante, it’s a priority to have rooms available for the people who rely on us to take care of them.

Significant projects in Asante’s Master Facility Plan include:

Asante Rogue Regional expansion

A 323,600-square-foot patient pavilion will be built on the north side of the campus and will connect to the existing six-floor inpatient structure.

The addition will make more space available for people needing emergency care, women’s and children’s services, heart care and surgery.

Construction on the $420 million addition will begin in October with completion in early 2023. Expansion of the Emergency Department, site development and other renovations are included in the cost.

Behavioral health

Asante Rogue Regional is expanding its inpatient behavioral health unit from 18 to 24 beds to address the growing need for acute mental health care. Construction of the $6.8 million project is scheduled to be completed in April.

Emergency care

Asante Three Rivers is expanding and renovating its Emergency Department to accommodate the growing number of people seeking care. Treating more than 41,000 patients annually, the ED will add 11 beds and double in size. The
$12.7 million project is expected to be completed in fall 2020.

Cancer care

A new regional cancer center will be built near the Asante Rogue Regional campus. The nearly 80,000-square-foot building will house all outpatient cancer services for one-stop patient convenience including radiation therapy, infusion services, education and support services. The $64 million project began in February and is expected to be completed in late-2021.

The Spears Cancer Center on the campus of Asante Three Rivers will grow by 21,000 square feet with a new two-story building for a total of 32,000 square feet. Added to the center’s current radiation therapy will be infusion, lab and pharmacy services. The estimated cost is $12 million and construction is expected to be completed near the end
of 2021.

Medical offices

Asante will build about 19,000 square feet of new medical office space in Jackson and Josephine counties. Each of the two locations will include an Asante Physician Partners family medicine practice and an urgent care clinic. A third, 90,000- to 100,000-square-foot medical office building is planned for Medford in the future.

An estimated 200 new positions will be added throughout the organization, including doctors, nurses, X-ray techs, phlebotomists, housekeepers and everything in between. Asante Talent Acquisition is partnering with higher education, technical institutions and other resources to recruit and train the best. Additionally, a governance council of Asante nursing executives, operational leaders and Human Resources representatives has been developing a workforce plan to attract and retain nurses with a range of experience and skills.

Funding for Asante’s Master Facility Plan projects will come from several sources, with the majority coming from capital funds — that is, funds Asante sets aside from operations each year to reinvest in facilities and services that improve patient care. Another large portion will come from bonds, which are essentially loans made to Asante at a prevailing interest rate.

One of Asante’s most valued sources of funding for this expansion comes from community members. Asante Foundation is undertaking its largest campaign ever, called AsanteForward, with a goal to raise at least $50 million to help transform the quality and breadth of health care in our region.

These projects and others will have a significant economic benefit beyond construction when you factor in revenue to communities from added jobs, taxes and purchases. The best part is the funds invested in the community stay local, benefiting the entire Southern Oregon community.

We will share more details about each of these projects throughout their development.

Growing to serve our community

New Behavioral Health Unit, ARRMC, opened spring 2020

New parking garage, ARRMC, opened spring 2020

ED expansion, ATRMC, fall 2020

New clinics, urgent care, Medford, Grants Pass, fall 2020

Regional cancer center, ARRMC, winter 2021

Cancer center expansion, ATRMC, fall 2021

New patient pavilion, ARRMC, 2023

New medical offices, Medford, Grants Pass, TBD