The 23,000-square-foot facility is located at the front of the hospital in an area previously serving as a parking lot.
While the outpatient surgery center had been in the planning stage for about two years prior to the groundbreaking, the medical community has discussed the need for a facility providing this service for about 20 years. Peterson said at the groundbreaking when he arrived at the medical center 12 years ago, he found a book on his desk with information about earlier planning for an outpatient surgery center.
A group of physicians formed a limited liability company (LLC) in the surgery center endeavor. The group includes physicians include Eric Arp, Harley Barrow, Daniel Decker, Jason Lindsay, Merwin Moore, John Neis, Paul Neis, Corey Smith and Kevin Steffan.