Event to mark groundbreaking for new downtown clinic and specialty center and inaugural flight to second helistop

Two events will mark the biggest expansion in the history of Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) when groundbreaking for the new 377,000 square foot clinic and specialty center takes place on Thursday, November 12, 2015 – moments before the inaugural landing of a helicopter on the hospital’s newest helistop.

The $220.8 million clinic building will consolidate 40 clinics and specialty services that are currently spread across nine buildings downtown into one facility. Care will be centralized and accessible for people who need a quick visit to the doctor, same day surgery, or the latest cancer treatment, with close parking and skyway connections to rest of the HCMC campus.

Immediately following the clinic building groundbreaking ceremony a Life Link III helicopter will land on the new helistop carrying 6-year-old Reagan Lennes, a patient from Alexandria who was flown to the Level I Pediatric Trauma Center at HCMC last year.

“Reagan is an amazing young lady who’s had a remarkable recovery,” explains Dr. Andrew Kiragu, Medical Director for HCMC’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. “She doesn’t remember her helicopter flight last year, but we’re hoping this ride is one she’ll never forget.”

The new helistop doubles the capacity to receive trauma patients by air and reduces the transport time into the hospital. The $3.8 million helistop sits atop the roof of the building housing the emergency department, operating rooms, and intensive care units. The original helistop, located on a nearby parking ramp, will be available when multiple patients are being transported by air to the Level I Adult and Pediatric Trauma Center.

BUILDING FACTS

HELISTOP FACTS