Sioux Center Health is continuing to expand services, form regional partnerships, and plan for future growth.
Speaking on the Sioux County Radio program The Daily Grind, CEO Cory Nelson says that focus has guided major changes over the past decade, as the health system has grown from a small provider base into a regional hub.
That growth is showing up both in patient demand and in future planning. Nelson says the hospital, which has 19 beds, is already operating at around 75% capacity regularly, prompting plans to expand surgical space.
Support is already coming together for that effort. The Sioux Center Health Community Foundation recently awarded a $4,000 grant to support needs tied to the planned surgery center expansion.
At the same time, Sioux Center Health is playing a leading role in a new regional effort to address a growing concern across rural America — access to maternal care.
Through a state transformation grant, the organization is partnering with several area hospitals, including facilities in Rock Rapids, Rock Valley, and Hawarden, to create a regional “center of excellence” for maternal health. The goal is to allow families to receive prenatal and postnatal care locally, while centralizing deliveries in Sioux Center.
Nelson says those types of collaborations are becoming essential as rural providers work to balance access and sustainability.
That same approach is also driving decisions on what services to add locally. Sioux Center Health regularly reviews data on where patients are traveling for care and works to bring those services back when possible.
One example is the addition of an infusion center, which now allows hundreds of treatments each year to be done locally instead of requiring trips to Sioux Falls or Sioux City.
As services expand, Nelson says the impact is already being felt across the region. Patients from communities in northwest Iowa and even into South Dakota are increasingly choosing Sioux Center for care, in part because of accessibility and convenience.
The growth has also been supported by investments in technology, including robotic-assisted surgery systems that allow for less invasive procedures and faster recovery times.
Looking ahead, Sioux Center Health is exploring additional expansions, including new specialty services such as oncology and urology, as well as potential facility growth in Hull.
Nelson says all of it ties back to a mission-driven approach focused on community needs.
Sioux Center Health is also preparing to mark its 75th anniversary this summer, with a community celebration planned for June 25th.
