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Northern Nevada Health System (NNHS) today announced its plan to build a full-service hospital in Reno. The project is the first full-service hospital to be built in the region in nearly a century and is expected to open in 2022. Northern Nevada Sierra Medical Center (SMC) will join the Health System’s growing operations which include Northern Nevada Medical Center, Northern Nevada Medical Group, Quail Surgical and Pain Management and soon-to-open ER at McCarran NW.

Upon completion of the initial phase of the project, the hospital campus is projected to include 350,000 square feet of hospital and medical office space. The new hospital will feature nearly 200 private patient rooms. During construction, the project will create an estimated 1,500 jobs indirectly and an estimated 1,000 new healthcare jobs at completion. NNHS’ expansion will improve access to healthcare, offer more choices for patients, and serve as an extension of the quality care already offered within the Health System.

“The rapid growth of our region signifies the need to expand healthcare services so patients can access care at the facility of their choice,” said Alan Olive, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Northern Nevada Medical Center. “Our new hospital will focus on the same core values we have embraced at Northern Nevada Medical Center for nearly 40 years. We are proud to be a top-rated healthcare facility in the nation, known for our patient-centered culture and excellence in patient care.”

Sierra Medical Center will introduce comprehensive services including emergency care, orthopedics and surgical services, labor and delivery, neonatal intensive care, oncology, cardiovascular and neurosurgical services. In addition, the campus will be home to medical office buildings that will provide outpatient services.

“Northern Nevada Health System is increasing their capacity, and as a result, they are completely changing the health care landscape with on our community,” said Dr. James Sullivan, Board Chair for Northern Nevada Medical Center.

Northern Nevada Medical Center is a subsidiary of Universal Health Services (NYSE: UHS), one of the nation’s most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services. UHS has invested in the development of healthcare in Nevada, and the other communities it serves, for 40 years.

“We continue to execute on our long-term strategies of prioritizing award-winning patient care, investing in our team and serving the communities in which we operate,” said Marvin Pember, Executive Vice President, UHS and President, Acute Care Division. “By building the new Sierra Medical Center, we are continuing our commitment to be the preferred provider in the market, providing access points within our network to better serve patients and their families.”

According to the Northern Nevada Economic Planning Indicators Committee, Reno’s population boom is on pace to grow by more than 100,000 residents over the next 10 years. These trends will increase the demand for healthcare services, including the need for more primary care providers to serve patients.

“As our city’s population has grown, so has our need for accessible, high-quality healthcare,” said Naomi Duerr, Vice Mayor of the City of Reno. “Sierra Medical Center will improve access to healthcare within our region – offering new diagnostic tools and treatment opportunities. This will help us to address the unprecedented demand for healthcare while providing new options for the whole community.”

Construction of the new hospital, led by SR Construction, is expected to begin later this year. In addition, Northern Nevada Health System will continue expanding its operations and will open the area’s first freestanding emergency department, ER at McCarran NW in 2020.