Ascension files $15.5M in building permits on two projects, including a new ER

Ascension Via Christi has filed more than $15.5M in building permits on two projects, including a new emergency room for the east side.

“We want to make sure we’re providing convenient access to care,” said Christopher Dodson, chief strategy officer.

The 12-room freestanding ER will be at the southwest corner of 21st and 127th streets.

Though the emergency room at Ascension Via Christi St. Francis downtown is three times the size of what the new east-side emergency room will be, Dodson said, “This will provide the exact same level of care.”

That means patients seeking care for everything from a broken bone to a heart attack can be seen there.

The new emergency room will be identical to an emergency room at Kellogg and 119th that Ascension broke ground on a few weeks ago. Construction should be completed by the end of the year on that one.

“We’re always evaluating the needs of the community,” Dodson said.

Like most everywhere nationally, he said, “The healthcare needs in Wichita are growing drastically. We expect that to continue to grow.”

Dodson said both sides of Wichita have a lot of need for emergency care.

“It was a really difficult decision on which to go first.”

Ascension will break ground on the new east-side emergency room mid-summer, and it should be ready to open 10 to 12 months after that.

Last week, Ascension spokesman Bill Kueser delayed answering questions about the emergency room permit, which Ascension filed and then withdrew.

He then issued a news release Tuesday about the emergency room plans, which are still on despite the permit being withdrawn on April 21. It does not appear the permit has been refiled.

Dodson said he’s not sure why the permit was withdrawn because plans still are proceeding.

He said Ascension expects the new emergency room to see about 15,000 patients annually.

Both new emergency rooms are about providing care where patients are instead of them having to drive long distances to receive treatment, Dodson said.

“Patients can be seen incredibly quickly.”

Ascension also filed a $5.8 million building permit at 848 N. St. Francis to relocate all of its electrophysiology providers in one building.

Dodson said the need for increased space for their offices has grown.

“This is right sizing of our clinic space for those physicians on our campus.”