Racine Sun

Feb. 1 was a red-letter day for Milwaukee-based Advocate Aurora Health (AAH) and the Village of Mount Pleasant as the Aurora Medical Center–Mount Pleasant began treating patients.

Located at 13250 Washington Ave., the facility opened its doors following a three-year effort, according to the Racine County Eye.

“After three years of planning and construction, and working closely with our community, we are pleased to open our doors to patients at this beautiful new medical center,” Aurora Medical Center president Lisa Just told the publication. “Aurora Mount Pleasant brings expert, quality care closer to home, and fills a vital need in the rapidly growing Racine/Kenosha counties and across southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.”

An AAH issued press release said the 198,000-square-foot hospital has 60 patient beds, 12 ICU beds and five operating rooms and an emergency department in addition to an additional medical office that has 24 specialty providers, including orthopedics, obstetrics & gynecology, cardiology, sports medicine and rehab services.

The facility has made it a goal to switch to 100% renewable electricity for its health care operations with the next eight years, as well as obtain a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver Certification, the Racine County Eye reported.

Aurora Medical Center–Mount Pleasant joins a small roster of Racine County hospital facilities that includes Ascension All Saints Hospital, 3801 Spring St., Racine and Aurora Medical Center-Burlington, 252 McHenry St., Burlington.

Advocate Aurora Health said the hospital boasts a workforce of 550 but is still hiring.

According to Fran Kriva, an RN who works in the emergency services department, Aurora Medical Center–Mount Pleasant fulfills the need for a new hospital in the area.

“It’s a huge community of people, and we’ve been in desperate need of another hospital,” Kriva told The Journal Times. “Providers are few and far between and they’re swamped and takes months to get in.”