A new physician clinic is under construction in Breezy Point as Cuyuna Regional Medical Center and Whitebirch, Inc., today broke ground on a new, 10,000-square-foot facility to help meet the growing medical needs of north-central Crow Wing County and improve access to quality healthcare.
Named the North Star Center, the project being developed on 20 acres along County Road 11 across from the Breezy Point Ice Arena is scheduled to open in Spring 2019. The clinic will be the anchor of the complex named after the Breezy Point North Stars USA Hockey-sanctioned junior ice hockey team. Other tenants will include a dental office, other medical related facilities, a gas station and convenience store.
CRMC CEO Kyle Bauer said the medical center recognizes the high level of growth in the region and strives to meet the needs of the communities it serves. The Breezy Point Clinic will be CRMC’s fourth physician clinic--other locations include Crosby, Baxter and Longville.
“We continually evaluate demographic shifts, community need, depth and breadth of available services, accessibility, and consumer ease,” stated Bauer, adding the organization started project discussions in early 2017. “Our goal is to bring high quality, convenient health care closer to the communities we serve.”
One physician and an advanced practice provider will be located at the 7,000-square-foot space. There will be nine exam rooms and a procedure room for outpatient clinic care and additional space available for expansion. Other services immediately available at the new building will include laboratory and diagnostic imaging services.
“CRMC is excited to partner with Whitebirch and City of Breezy Point to provide a new clinic in an area where numerous patients already receive our services. It is our goal to bring as many services as we can to the patient,” said Bauer.
Project developer Bob Spizzo, CEO of Whitebirch, Inc., the parent company of Breezy Point Resort, spoke about his vision for the area and emphasized that Whitebirch’s goal is to provide a welcoming and comfortable environment for visitors, staff and patients while reflecting its leadership in environmental initiatives. He added that wherever possible, local construction firms will be utilized for the project.
Tom Lillehei, Mayor of the City of Breezy Point, welcomed CRMC to the community and thanked Whitebirch for the development of the North Star Center which will become the showcase entrance to the city.
The new clinic, like all CRMC satellite locations, will be connected to the MyChart electronic health record system, so all patients’ vital medical information is available to any CRMC provider, no matter where they are seen, for better coordinated care.
Whitebirch, Inc., was established in 1974 to develop and market approximately 3,000 acres surrounding the Breezy Point Resort which was founded in 1921. Whitebirch originally concentrated its activity on the development of subdivisions for single family residential lots and camping sites. The resort was acquired by Whitebirch in 1981 and the company began developing and marketing condominium interval ownership units. Today, the family-owned resort includes three golf courses, a boat marina, ice arena, four restaurants, four bars, recreation center, 400 rental units, 50 retirement townhomes, and 1,700 camping lots.
CRMC has provided healthcare to the region for more than 50 years. More than 950 physicians, nurses, health care professionals and support staff work together to provide patients and their families with positive, proactive, patient focused, and family centered care. The organization is home to over 40 primary care and specialty physicians. In addition to its Crosby hospital, Care Center, Ambulance, Surgery Center, physician clinic and senior living community, CRMC has outpatient clinics in Baxter and Longville.
Breaking ground for Cuyuna Regional Medical Center’s Breezy Point Clinic are (left to right): Hy-Tec General Manager Mitch Feierabend; CRMC Facilities Director Dan Hoffard, Clinic Manager Cindy Schmitz, CFO Katie Berg, CHRO Caity Eggen, COO Amy Hart, and CEO Kyle Bauer; Whitebirch, Inc., CEO Bob Spizzo; CRMC Board Member Kevin Egan; Rep. Josh Heintzeman; Crow Wing County Commissioner Paul Thiede; Breezy Point Resort General Manager David Spizzo; Breezy Point Mayor Tom Lillehei; and CRMC Board Members Andrea Bedard, Richard Schiller and Dr. Shawn Roberts.