A New Hospital for Oakes
"I'm pleased to be able to support the development and construction of the new Oakes Community Hospital. It is extremely important to the area," says Tim Forward, chairman of the Oakes Community Hospital Foundation.
Forward, a Dakota Valley Electric Cooperative member who farms near Oakes is one of the many persons who have joined together in the effort to construct a new state-of-the-art hospital that will provide enhanced healthcare for all southeast North Dakota and northeastern South Dakota residents throughout the 21st century.
As a community, Oakes is fortunate to have a hospital, an up-to-date well-equipped ambulance service, and Southeast Medical Center, one of the best rural health clinics in North Dakota. While a number of area hospitals have closed, Oakes Community Hospital has continued - touching countless lives and meeting the region’s medical needs.
The new hospital is designed to address citizens' present and future health care needs. It will include facilities for major surgery and obstetrics, CT scan and MRI services, a 24-hour emergency Level IV trauma center, and a host of other services usually found only at hospitals in large urban centers.
The $8,000,000 facility, completion in May, 2007, was funded by $7,000,000 from Catholic Health Initiatives, and a $1,000,000 commitment from area residents and businesses.