The Avera on Louise Health Campus in Sioux Falls has broken ground on a new digestive health facility. Dr. Christopher Hurley, a Gastroenterologist for Avera Medical Group, expressed that the new facility is in response to changes in the recommended screening age for colon cancer. The United States Preventative Task Force now recommends screening starting at age forty-five, rather than fifty as previously recommended. This change was made due to the rise of colon cancer cases in younger individuals and the emergence of more aggressive types of the disease.
Hurley mentioned that the new facility’s development was paused during the pandemic but was given the go-ahead with an updated model. Dr. Ronald Place, the Regional President and CEO of Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center, emphasized the economic development benefits of the project. The facility will increase capacity for gastrointestinal services, reducing wait times for patients. It will also improve access to important procedures like colonoscopies for preventive measures against colon cancer.
According to Place, the project is expected to take approximately 18 months from groundbreaking to completion. This new facility aims to address the growing needs of the community and provide essential digestive health services to patients in the Sioux Falls area.