New $30M medical center planned in Piqua

A $30 million medical center planned for Piqua is the latest in a series of new Miami County health care construction projects, as local hospital networks expand their footprints and heat up competition.

Kettering Health Network on Tuesday announced plans for the new 308 S. Looney Road complex, which will include a 24-hour emergency department. Construction, led by Danis Building Construction, starts Dec. 10 and the medical center should open the spring of 2020.

“Kettering Health Network has made a commitment to bring lifesaving services closer to where people live and work. Residents in and around Piqua have told us they’re excited to be able to access our unique type of whole person care in their community,” Fred Manchur, Kettering Health Network CEO, said in a statement.

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This medical center is part of the Kettering-based health network’s expansion into Miami County. Kettering Health Network, Premier Health’s Upper Valley Medical Center, Dayton Children’s Hospital and Wilson Health all have projects underway in the county of 105,000 residents — a population has grown 2.6 percent since 2010.

The projects have meant millions of dollars in contracts for local construction firms and will create more than 200 new jobs.

The Dayton Daily News previously reported that the number of emergency departments — both freestanding and hospital-attached — has been rapidly growing in the region. Besides Piqua, Kettering Health just opened an ER in Middletown, will open one at its future Troy hospital and in recent years added ERs in Franklin and Huber Heights.

Premier Health just opened an ER in Miamisburg, though also converted its Mason ER into an urgent care. Mercy Health is building an ER in Enon.

Besides the ER, the 48,000-square-foot medical complex in Piqua will have a full range of imaging and testing services on a non-emergency basis and primary care and specialty practices. It will employ about 100 people, including registered nurses, respiratory therapists, imaging and lab technicians and support staff, according to Kettering Health.

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Kettering Health’s site in Piqua is within a mile of competitor Upper Valley’s Outpatient Care Center/North at 280 N. Looney Road, affiliated with Premier Health. Upper Valley Medical Center recently renovated its Piqua center and expanded rehabilitation services.

Wilson Health, based in Sidney, also plans to open an office in the spring at 1255 E. Ash St., Piqua, with primary care and ob/gyn services.

“We’re very pleased to see the medical community recognizes the citizens of Piqua’s health care needs,” said Chris Schmiesing, Piqua interim development director. Along with the additional medical services, Schmiesing said the city will benefit from the additional jobs and economic impact of the medical center.

Besides Piqua, health care companies have been building in other parts of Miami County.

Kettering Health is also building a hospital in Troy, which will join its existing network of eight hospitals and 11 emergency departments when it opens in 2019.

Ohio's Hospice is building a $10 million inpatient hospice house on Upper Valley Medical Center's campus in Troy, which should open late 2019.

Dayton Children’s Hospital is planning an outpatient office in Troy, which will bring smaller medical practices under one roof, where they will expand and add about 15 to 20 new positions.

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