St. Patrick Hospital planning expansion in Missoula; details not yet released

(KPAX) A vacant lot across the street from the Saint Patrick Hospital’s Broadway Building is going to be put to more use than just parking.

The hospital announced on Wednesday that it’s pressing ahead with plans to expand onto the property.

The highly anticipated project will aim to blend into the existing infrastructure of downtown Missoula while also engaging the community.

“We’re going to educate our consumers and our patients as we build this building as to… health care of the future during the change and how this building can support them in being healthier actually being a healthier person,” Providence Montana Chief Executive Joyce Dombrouski told MTN News.

The multi-million dollar project will be funded through philanthropy, a low interest loan, and a combination of other sources.

The project’s architects have been tracking other changes made by the hospital since 2016 in an attempt to anticipate what services patients will need in the future.

“We’re really focused on ambulatory outpatient care. Some of our key service lines we anticipate will move over there as well…we’re looking at an ambulatory surgery approach,” Dombrouski said.

“It’s all been done with key stakeholders in mind and really again trying to anticipate what will the consumers of the future need and expect in terms of access and healthcare,” she added.

The project is part of a 10-year master plan to make changes to the entire hospital campus and they plan to break ground in October.

Additionally, Providence’s facility in Polson — which is a critical access hospital — will be updating its facilities and hopefully expanding its clinic space.