The latest artist rendition of the new Mackinac Straits Hospital and Health Center shows the twostory building proposed for the site, which is a change from the single story building originally proposed. The public will have the opportunity to review the new hospital plans at a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday, May 28, at the North State Street site in St. Ignace. (Image courtesy of URS Corporation) A groundbreaking for Mackinac Straits Health Village will be Wednesday, May 28, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the new hospital site at 1140 North State Street in St. Ignace. The event will allow the public to tour the building site and view the new hospital plans.

Construction is anticipated to begin in mid- to late-June and be completed by late 2009 or 2010. The proposed hospital, long term care facility, and tribal health clinic will be on 16.5 acres, across from Lake Huron.

The two-story hospital building will have views of Lake Huron from its second floor dining room. The entire hospital building and tribal health care clinic will include about 85,000 square feet for visiting physician offices, expanded chemotherapy, rehabilitation, and dialysis units, an emergency department with a drivethrough heated garage, outpatient procedure rooms, 15 acute care rooms, and an updated radiology department with X-ray, CAT scan, ultrasound, and digital mammography. The long term care unit will be 33,000 square feet in size and will contain four residential living areas with their own fireplaces, living rooms, kitchens, and bathing areas.

Voters approved transferring management and assets of the Mackinac Straits Hospital Authority to the new corporation,

Mackinac Straits Health Systems, May 7, and the Authority will hold its last regular meeting June 16.