Wednesday, March 19, 2008

First look at Aurora Hospital

Here's a first look at the new Aurora Hospital currently being built on Grand Forks' south side in the Aurora Medical Park. The building appears to be in the same style as the existing clinic building in the development.

As most of you likely know, the project has experienced several setbacks over the years...most recently a several month long delay in construction. However, it appears as though construction is now fully underway. Just recently, crews started raising the building's walls. I would assume that the building should be open at some point in 2009.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm surprised they are going ahead with the project considering the largest insurance company in the state won't contract with them. And more medical board disciplinary problems for Dr Peterson who was leading the project. Hopefully the quality of construction is better than his practice.

Anonymous said...

If you carry Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance, most plans will cover any visit to the Aurora Hospital. You'll just pay more out of pocket than you would at Altru. You'll be paying the "out of network" prices - see your policy for more details. BC/BS didn't contract with Innovis Hospital for the first few years, either. They do now. Does anyone know if this hospital will have an Emergency Room or an Ambulance. Right now, Altru owns the ambulances, so if you call 911 - you go to Altru regardless of what hospital you prefer.

Anonymous said...

They will not provide ER or ambulance. Both of those lose money. I am sure they will have some type of urgent care though.

Anonymous said...

They already have an urgent care.

Anonymous said...

There is for sure Urgent care, and there is NOT a waiting like you would at Altru! The the WORSTE! The younger guy in the urgent care doing the overnight at Altru is the worst doc i have ever met. He was VERY rude and made me sit there for 3 hrs before getting in. ( i ended up in the hospital for over a month)I'm . Good health now. phemonia.

Anonymous said...

Hooray!! After more than two weeks we have something besides Open Thread. Don't get me wrong-I enjoy Open Thread, but it is nice to have something with a little more focus. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

We need LESS hospitals, not more.

Anonymous said...

We have 1 hospital at the moment. What do you propose we do? Close Altru? No hospitals is a "great" idea.

Anonymous said...

anon@ 10:23. There is no overnight Urgent Care at Altru or anywhere in the city. Your post is confusing.

Anonymous said...

Didn't the architect Lonnie Laffen, say on this blog that we'd see renderings of the new GFK terminal by now?

Anyone seen or heard anything?

moment of zen said...

It is a beautiful building. I hate to see any business fail, but I certainly don't understand how they will make it. Is there really that much business for a hospital other than Altru in Grand Forks?

Anonymous said...

Ambulance services from small surrounding communities will have the option of Aurora - I think Altru only serves the Grand Cities - Think of a 150 Mile radius. Another point, it was not until about 3 years ago, when being faced with an additional cancer center, that Altru bucked-up. Think about this too, they never advertised. Now, its billboards, GFH, TV, everything they can get into and sponsor. Too, I predict, Grand Forks will only continue to grow.

Anonymous said...

You have to remember that people from 90 miles out come to Grand Forks to see medical providers, especially specialists. Right now there there people from Cavalier, Grafton, Lakota, etc. that drive THROUGH Grand Forks to hit MeritCare in Fargo because they do not like Altru. Another hospital may give that substantial patient population a choice closer to their home.

Anonymous said...

richie,

Altru has advertised for years. True, they have done more since there is more competition. I don't think that is unexpected. Why spend money to market when you don't have to? Altru is a non profit and should be accountable for the money they spend. People used to bitch when they advertised as they felt it was wasteful spending.

Anonymous said...

Carmike lowers prices cause of River Cinemas low prices.

Altru lowers it's waiting time due to Aurora Hospital in Grand Forks.

We need competition in the health care field in town. It might actually do the area good.

Best of luck Aurora!

Anonymous said...

How about a new topic?
This one is no good.
Let's push for a Tim Horton's!
HOO YEAH!

Anonymous said...

Olive Garden!

Anonymous said...

This tread seems to be geared toward Aurora - lets run with that. . .

Anonymous 8:11 PM 3/20
Yes, Altru has been advertising for years but the cancer center has been a foci for only the last few. And, I agree less marketing and more funds for treatment $$ of those who have little or no health care insurance.

Anonymous said...

Altru already has several different payment plans for those with little or no money. Most of the time, they offer 0% interest loans to help finance medical bills. They have a charity fund set up for those in dire financial straits, but there are very strict rules governing it's use. Both Altru and Aurora have the same goal: to fill their hospitals to capacity. To do that, they'll need to advertise.

Anonymous said...

I don't quite understand all the Altru bashing ... we have had almost all positive experiences (except for one really bad dr. in Urgent Care, which we now go to Aurora when it's after regular hours). Altru has served our needs very well. We love our family practice dr. My son's brief stay in the ped ward for rota virus was good. My baby deliver was fine. Is it just the "specialty" doctors that people don't like?

Anonymous said...

I don't understand the bashing either. Billing systems have gone to the separate bills for each visit at most large hospital and clinics. I don't know if that's so people don't just pay $25 a month on a $5,000 bill or what. People's expectation that health care should be free or very lenient as far as collections is naive. Try sending $5 a month on your cell phone bill or $20 a month on your car loan and see how patient they are.

~Blondie~ said...

Yea but......I'd be nice to know what to pay and by when with each month like cell phone or a big Car loan tho even. These are not in the yearly budget all the time, and yes i think it should be free/cheepier/Flat rate per month. somthing then what is going on now.

Unknown said...

Do we really need a for-profit hospital in the area? These places are money-making factories that would rather make money off of patients by prescribing unnecessary costly tests and expensive medicines than providing good health care. People blame insurance companies for the rise of health care costs, but it's really hospitals and doctors that push up costs because they have no incentive to be cost efficient. Altru and most other hospitals are bad enough, and this one would even be worse.

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Anonymous said...

Well . . . Aurora might not do as well as they want and they might not have ALL the same immenidites that Altru has but there staff is much more experienced, pleasurable, qualified, and courteous then Altru. If I am not dying, I will make an apt with Aurora to get in as soon as possible instead of going to Altru. Altru staff and doctors are rude, don't care, are unqualified, and just don't seem to care about others. THey are quick to get you out the door. They don't listen to you, explain stuff, or show any compassion to people. I definetly think Altru needs to have a STAFF MEETING, to TEACH there employees how to treat people. I do agree that people would rather go to Fargo, and now with Aurora, each time I have been there, they are excellent. Altru just needs to step it up. I would still consider in an emergency case, if Fargo was too far and Aurora was closed, going to a qualifed vet to get looked at then Altru!

Anonymous said...

Well . . . Aurora might not do as well as they want and they might not have ALL the same immenidites that Altru has but there staff is much more experienced, pleasurable, qualified, and courteous then Altru. If I am not dying, I will make an apt with Aurora to get in as soon as possible instead of going to Altru. Altru staff and doctors are rude, don't care, are unqualified, and just don't seem to care about others. THey are quick to get you out the door. They don't listen to you, explain stuff, or show any compassion to people. I definetly think Altru needs to have a STAFF MEETING, to TEACH there employees how to treat people. I do agree that people would rather go to Fargo, and now with Aurora, each time I have been there, they are excellent. Altru just needs to step it up. I would still consider in an emergency case, if Fargo was too far and Aurora was closed, going to a qualifed vet to get looked at then Altru!

Anonymous said...

Well . . . Aurora might not do as well as they want and they might not have ALL the same immenidites that Altru has but there staff is much more experienced, pleasurable, qualified, and courteous then Altru. If I am not dying, I will make an apt with Aurora to get in as soon as possible instead of going to Altru. Altru staff and doctors are rude, don't care, are unqualified, and just don't seem to care about others. THey are quick to get you out the door. They don't listen to you, explain stuff, or show any compassion to people. I definetly think Altru needs to have a STAFF MEETING, to TEACH there employees how to treat people. I do agree that people would rather go to Fargo, and now with Aurora, each time I have been there, they are excellent. Altru just needs to step it up. I would still consider in an emergency case, if Fargo was too far and Aurora was closed, going to a qualifed vet to get looked at then Altru!

Anonymous said...

Well . . . Aurora might not do as well as they want and they might not have ALL the same immenidites that Altru has but there staff is much more experienced, pleasurable, qualified, and courteous then Altru. If I am not dying, I will make an apt with Aurora to get in as soon as possible instead of going to Altru. Altru staff and doctors are rude, don't care, are unqualified, and just don't seem to care about others. THey are quick to get you out the door. They don't listen to you, explain stuff, or show any compassion to people. I definetly think Altru needs to have a STAFF MEETING, to TEACH there employees how to treat people. I do agree that people would rather go to Fargo, and now with Aurora, each time I have been there, they are excellent. Altru just needs to step it up. I would still consider in an emergency case, if Fargo was too far and Aurora was closed, going to a qualifed vet to get looked at then Altru!

Anonymous said...

Well . . . Aurora might not do as well as they want and they might not have ALL the same immenidites that Altru has but there staff is much more experienced, pleasurable, qualified, and courteous then Altru. If I am not dying, I will make an apt with Aurora to get in as soon as possible instead of going to Altru. Altru staff and doctors are rude, don't care, are unqualified, and just don't seem to care about others. THey are quick to get you out the door. They don't listen to you, explain stuff, or show any compassion to people. I definetly think Altru needs to have a STAFF MEETING, to TEACH there employees how to treat people. I do agree that people would rather go to Fargo, and now with Aurora, each time I have been there, they are excellent. Altru just needs to step it up. I would still consider in an emergency case, if Fargo was too far and Aurora was closed, going to a qualifed vet to get looked at then Altru!

Anonymous said...

Well . . . Aurora might not do as well as they want and they might not have ALL the same immenidites that Altru has but there staff is much more experienced, pleasurable, qualified, and courteous then Altru. If I am not dying, I will make an apt with Aurora to get in as soon as possible instead of going to Altru. Altru staff and doctors are rude, don't care, are unqualified, and just don't seem to care about others. THey are quick to get you out the door. They don't listen to you, explain stuff, or show any compassion to people. I definetly think Altru needs to have a STAFF MEETING, to TEACH there employees how to treat people. I do agree that people would rather go to Fargo, and now with Aurora, each time I have been there, they are excellent. Altru just needs to step it up. I would still consider in an emergency case, if Fargo was too far and Aurora was closed, going to a qualifed vet to get looked at then Altru!