30-Bed Expansion Complete at St. Gertrude's Health and Rehab Center

Recent demand for beds at in Shakopee has been so great that at times they’ve had to turn away 60-80 patients a month.

But thanks in part to a donation from the , 60 of those patients can now be admitted.

The Shakopee Mdewakanton gift supported construction of a 36,565 square-foot addition to the existing St. Gertrude’s, which provides long-term care, hospice services, assisted living, and rehabilitation for patients recovering from orthopedic surgeries, cancer, and motorcycle and vehicle injuries. Patients stay an average of 18-20 days.

“We’re very excited about opening our new physical rehabilitation facility and being able to serve more people within the community,” said St. Gertrude’s Marketing Director Yvonne Anderson in a news release. The new space, decorated in restful earth tones, was blessed and a ribbon-cutting held Oct. 13. 

Thirty private rooms dedicated to rehabilitation have been added with each new room containing a ceiling lift to help move patients from the bed to wheelchairs to restrooms and showers. Existing rooms and physical therapy space were also remodeled as part of the project.

The new space also provides opportunities for increased outpatient and wellness services, such as educational seminars on improving balance, muscle tone, falls prevention, and other topics relevant to community health needs. A cozy community room with healthy snacks available throughout the day along with a fireplace provides space for social interaction for patients as they recover their mobility.

With a check for $333,334, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community has now met its commitment for a $1 million matching grant over three years to the Saints Healthcare Foundation of Shakopee. The Foundation raises funds for both St. Francis Regional Medical Center and St. Gertrude’s Health and Rehabilitation Center. 

The overall project cost was $6.4 million with a fundraising goal of $2 million. The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community donated $1 to the Saints Healthcare Foundation for every $1 donated by the larger community, enabling St. Gertrude’s to meet its $2 million fundraising goal for this project.  

“We are happy to be able to support both St. Gertrude’s and St. Francis with this donation of one million dollars to the Saints Healthcare Foundation,” SMSC Chairman Stanley R. Crooks said. “I personally have had a lot of experience at St. Francis with friends and family members who have been patients there, so I know how important the work they do is.”