Building campaign for Eureka hospital surpasses goal

The town of Eureka raised more than $2 million in six months for the construction of a new hospital, surpassing their original goal by more than double.

Eureka Community Health Services Avera is located in a building that is over 88 years old and has the emergency department on the third floor. Patients that are brought in by ambulance are dropped off in the basement.

The new hospital, which is slated to be completed this summer, will include four critical-access hospital beds, a 10-bed assisted-living center, a clinic with eight exam rooms, a lab and radiology services, a surgical suite, a large therapy area and a three-stall ambulance garage. The hospital will also have a 24-hour emergency department.