Copyright WEAU
VIROQUA, Wis. (WEAU) - Vernon Health Clinic is breaking ground on an over 4,000 square foot expansion to their Viroqua hospital. Vernon Health CEO David Hartberg says the expansion will feature flex space, as well as an MRI suite. Hartberg adds that multiple years of work and collaboration within the community have helped bring this project to life. “It’s a great medical staff. It’s a great team that’s here. That start’s there. It’s a growing community that is helping it to grow. People that want to be in western Wisconsin and in the driftless area. I think that combination together allows us to be successful. It also sets the expectations that we continue to grow and care for our community,” says Hartberg. Imaging manager Barb Webb says having an MRI suite at the hospital will make it easier for staff to give quicker results to patients. “It allows same day access. Our emergency department will have access to scans as the patients are seen, instead of having to be transported out to other facilities. Bringing that here to our community is very important,” says Webb. Vernon Health officials say one of the most important reasons for this expansion is so that patients will no longer need to travel long distances for advanced MRI imaging. “For a number of years, we’ve relied on a mobile service that comes here, and it only comes a couple of days a week. We have to bring patients outside, and on a day like today that’s not too difficult, but there’s days that are rainy and cold. We wanted to provide that service more days a week, and also have that experience for that patient be great,” says Hartberg. The MRI suite and the rest of the expansion is expected to be complete in the fall of 2026. According to Vernon Health experts, the project’s cost will be nearly $7 million. $2 million of that cost will be paid for by a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Administration.
