by: The North Platte Bulletin - May. 26, 2022
Great Plains Health of North Platte is one step closer to the opening of a new primary care center, after the last steel beam was placed Thursday morning.
Hospital administrators, physicians and staff gathered for a “topping ceremony,” a symbolic tradition in steel frame construction.
The ceremony celebrated the last steel beam placed in the frame. The beam is painted white and those connected to the project signed it, including construction workers and hospital staff, leaving an everlasting mark on the project.
The beam was hoisted to the top of the building with an evergreen tree and American flag decorating the beam. The tree represents a new beginning and continued growth.
GPHealth CEO Ivan Mitchell said the vision for the facility is coming to life more every day. “This topping ceremony was a powerful reminder of our commitment to serving this region and exceeding the healthcare needs of this community,” Mitchell said.
Construction of the 65,000-square-foot facility is expected to be complete in 2023. The $30-million, two-story building will contain 53 exam rooms.
It will become the new home of Great Plains Family Medicine, Great Plains Pediatrics and Great Plains Health Internal Medicine, spokeswoman Mary Roberts said.
“We can’t wait to begin seeing patients in this new center,” said Dr. Grishma Parikh of the Great Plains Pediatrics staff. “This building allows us as physicians to work more collaboratively with each other, but, most importantly, it is more convenient for families. It is a demonstration of our continued commitment to offering the best care for Greater Nebraska.”
The building will be a patient-centered primary care center that maximizes space, improves patient flow and provides room for GPHealth primary services to expand further, Roberts.
Ground was broken on the project In October and work continued through much of the winter.
Great Plains Health is a fully accredited, 116-bed acute-care regional medical center serving western and central Nebraska, northern Kansas and southern South Dakota with 90 physicians representing nearly 30 medical specialties, GPH said.
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