'It's been a long journey to get here:' New Ascension hospital opening in Menomonee Falls

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A new Ascension Wisconsin hospital in Menomonee Falls is opening its doors Tuesday, Aug. 31.

"We saw a growing, vibrant community that got a lot of families moving here, a lot of patients that's going to have an unmet health care need," Blake Estes said. He is the vice president of ambulatory development for Ascension Wisconsin hospitals. 

Ascension officials say opening a new hospital in the area is crucial. The goal is to reduce wait time.

"Patients in this area were waiting six to eight hours in an emergency room for care," Amanda Shurtz said. "We said we think we can do better, let's put a small hospital that's economy built." Shurtz is the regional CEO.

Plans for this new hospital were already in the mix before the pandemic.

"It's been a long journey to get here," Shurtz said.

Despite worker challenges right now, Estes says they were able to secure seasoned and reliable staff.

"We're excited that we were able to that and grow without adversely impacting partners." 

The Menomonee Falls site will create 30 jobs, but this hospital is part of a bigger project. An Ascension hospital will open in Greenfield in September and another in Waukesha in October.

"We will be opening three of these neighborhood hospitals within a six-week period, so we're looking at around 100 jobs," Estes said. 

This location has an emergency room, lab and imaging services on the first floor. The clinic upstairs offers primary care and specialty services. COVID testing is also available at this site. 

"Any same-day need, whether it be a runny nose or a COVID test or anything like that, we will have that ability," Estes said.