Nobody in North Dakota can deny that access to rural healthcare is important. Still, lack of resources, funding, and workforce are putting some cornerstone systems and rural critical access hospitals in trouble, ultimately hurting every business in our small, home-town communities. In fact, the growth and resilience of rural communities are often reliant on access to high-quality healthcare that can help retain long-term residents. As healthcare specialists at JLG Architects, this team doesn’t just design the infrastructure that houses clinics and hospitals, they rebuild the roots for a strong workforce, vibrant community, and supportive businesses that recognize the value of your health and its impact on theirs.
The Value of Healthcare
According to a 2022 U.S. Census, North Dakota is home to 776,874 residents, with 307,012 people living in rural areas. For JLG’s specialized Healthcare studio, these numbers equate to roughly 40% of the population relying on rural healthcare resources, with many making the commute to larger cities. If a commute is necessary, JLG is making sure the healthcare destination is a one-stop shop for general and specialized care. Whether getting that care at home or on the road, modern architecture is integrating solutions aimed at saving North Dakotans time and money.
“We are very excited to provide a modernized healthcare setting and fantastic community space to further invest in the future of Turtle Lake’s Main Street. We want everyone to feel welcome at Northland, and this new, more united Center will create the support, services, and connectivity we need to contribute to our community’s health and enrichment.”
—Nadine Boe, CEO – Northland Health Centers
Northland Health Centers
In the spring of 2023, Northland Health Centers broke ground at its new Turtle Lake, ND site. Last summer, JLG and Roers Construction returned to celebrate the official ribbon cutting of the new 12,000-square-foot facility, focused on both community connection and access to modernized healthcare. Here, JLG’s design fused administration offices, a medical clinic, a dental clinic, behavioral health services, and 1,000 square feet of multipurpose space designated for community gatherings. A big driver of this project was ensuring Turtle Lake residents and businesses had the resources to stay put, stay connected, and stay healthy for a resilient future.
In other words, healthcare is no longer entirely focused on health-related services. In many rural towns, hospitals and clinics are the knot that keep their communities tied together.
In spearheading the project, Nadine Boe, Northland’s Turtle Lake Chief Executive Officer, was a firm advocate for the Center’s designation of gathering space to be used by the entire community—serving family celebrations, meetings, youth and senior activities, and health, safety, and wellness events.
Heart of America Medical Center in Rugby, ND
At the public ribbon cutting for Heart of America Medical Center (HAMC) in Rugby, ND, attendees weren’t just celebrating a 77,000-square-foot critical access hospital, they were celebrating future-ready healthcare that will be the beating heart of this rural community. Rugby may only have a population of 2,800, but its health system serves over 13,000 people within a 50-mile radius.
With an inclusive design process led by JLG, HAMC brings operational efficiency, expanded healthcare services, state-of-the-art healthcare technology, and community-driven amenities to enrich the patient and provider experience. And just like all more inclusive healthcare design concepts, JLG focused equitable attention on the needs of providers, staff, patients, family, and community.
For Community By Community
HAMC provides more of what the region needs without the big city commute, offering a cutting-edge hospital and clinic with an enhanced surgical center and new Chemo Infusion Center. The new HAMC also brings a residential-style swing bed department known as the Living Center, a therapy department, a 24/7 Wellness Center, staff respite areas, a retail pharmacy, and a Main Street, including a “Grab-N-Go” community café. It’s all designed for community by community.
As with many smaller health systems, HAMC was built with a groundswell of community support, starting with the board, community leaders, and local bankers and businesses that stepped up to ensure a successful outcome.
“HAMC is not just a new, cutting-edge hospital for Rugby, in a sense, it’s also a community center, where people can meet on ‘Main Street,’ grab lunch at the café, or workout. The new Heart of America Medical Center is a really welcoming place that brings the entire community together.”
–Shauntel Fett, JLG Architects
“They truly understood the long-term impact and how much the community and surrounding communities needed this hospital to sustain growth and meet expanded healthcare needs. With modernized medical services, patient-focused spaces, and community-inspired gathering areas, we believe the heart of Rugby is now the Heart of America Medical Center.”
– Todd Medd, JLG Architects
Learn More About JLG Architects’ Healthcare Studio & Explore the Rural Healthcare Project Portfolio at jlgarchitects.com
402 E Main Ave, Bismarck, ND
701-255-1617
