U-M Health Announces Urgent $28M Expansion for Ionia Hospital

UPDATE: The University of Michigan’s Board of Regents has just approved a significant $28 million expansion of the U-M Health-Sparrow hospital in Ionia County, MI. This urgent decision was made during the board’s meeting on November 20 and aims to construct a 31,000-square-foot ambulatory center right next to the existing hospital.

This expansion is crucial for enhancing patient access to a variety of essential health care services in Ionia. The new facility will feature vital services such as primary care, imaging, oncology, orthopedics, and cardiology. Dr. David Miller, Executive Vice President of Medical Affairs at U-M, emphasized the importance of this project, stating,

“This new building will reflect University of Michigan Health’s ongoing commitment to serving our patients as close to home as possible by providing high-quality health care to all the communities in which we serve.”

Funding for this ambitious project will be sourced from U-M Health-Sparrow resources, with design and construction expected to take approximately 30 months. Since its establishment in 2015, Sparrow Ionia has seen remarkable growth in both inpatient and outpatient services, necessitating more space for specialty clinics and primary care physicians. This expansion comes as a direct response to the increasing demand for health care services in the region.

Connie O’Malley, Chief Operating Officer of the U-M Health Regional Network, expressed her enthusiasm, stating,

“We are happy to expand our community-based services and provide even more access to the clinical expertise of U-M Health. We are actively investing in the health care of the people of Ionia and expect this new facility will provide much-needed access to the best providers and best treatment options closer to their homes.”

The U-M Board of Regents previously made headlines with their $800 million acquisition of the Lansing-based Sparrow Health System in December 2022, officially integrating all Sparrow hospitals under the U-M Health System brand in April 2023. This latest expansion underscores U-M Health’s commitment to improving health care accessibility and quality in Ionia and surrounding communities.

As construction begins, community members can look forward to enhanced health services that will bring leading medical care closer to home, fulfilling a critical need in Ionia County. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.