By Dan Hounsell, Senior Editor

Carson Valley Medical Center (CVMC) in Gardnerville, Nev., recently broke ground on the medical center’s expansion project. The expansion will include: acute care and ICU, emergency room; surgery department and radiology services; increased emergency room capacity of 5-12 beds; increase operating room capacity from two limited rooms to three full-size operating rooms and two procedure rooms; and include two additional private in-patient beds and ICU space while providing minimal disruptions to operations during construction.

The addition will provide improved access to care as more patients will be able to receive care in their community, says Jeff Prater, chief executive officer for CVMC.

“This project will provide an enhanced environment of care with improved efficiencies, safety and infection control measures, as well as private rooms for patients, improved air handling equipment and improved navigation for patients and visitors,” Prater said.

Originally built as an urgent care facility in 1993, the facility also offered primary care with family and internal medicine, lab facilities, physical therapy, pharmacy and medical imaging. Outpatient surgery, 24-hour emergency room and rehabilitation therapy services were added in 1995. The existing hospital opened in 2004.

In 2006, CVMC expanded services to cover Yerington, Topaz Ranch Estates, Wellington, Smith Valley, Coleville and the surrounding areas.

Since 2008, additional primary care services were added when Minden Family Medicine and Complete Care and Job’s Peak Internal Medicine and Family Practice joined CVMC. Senior Care services and Vitality for Life programs were added to serve the valley’s patients over the age of 65 in 2009-10. CVMC Urgent Care, primary care and occupational health services were added in Minden in 2014, and in 2019, CVMC began behavioral health and Child and Adolescent programs.

CVMC employs more than 460 employees, and Prater estimates an increase in staffing needs of up to 20 percent in a wide range of backgrounds and expertise over time.

First up for completion in the existing site is the rehabilitation center in mid-January 2022, followed by the sterile processing department in late February. New building construction begins in early May with substantial completion by the end of 2023. The project is estimated to create 100-150 construction jobs.