Early discussions of the project began in 2021, when the hospital embarked on what it referred to as its “master plan” — a long-term plan that involved strategically exploring ways to optimize the space and overall flow of the hospital to ensure the best patient experience for years to come. Since then, Loring’s Board of Directors, Foundation Trustees, and staff — along with input from community members — have been working to transform Loring Hospital into a facility that will meet the hospital’s current needs and anticipated needs of the future.

Plans for the project include enhanced outpatient service areas, such as rehabilitation therapy, pulmonary and cardiac rehab, diabetes and nutrition services, as well as specialty outpatient clinics. The project also includes a new primary provider clinic that will optimize the delivery of patient care.

“There have been many changes in health care, particularly rural health care, over the past several years,” said Matt Johnson, the hospital’s chief executive officer. “Keeping up with those changes, and meeting the needs of patients in our current facility, has become increasingly challenging. As part of this exciting venture, certain spaces have been identified as key areas for growth and enhancement. The new addition and renovations to the current structure will allow our remarkable team to better serve our patients both now and well into the future.”

The project — which was officially approved by the Loring Hospital Board of Directors in June 2023 — is being funded through hospital funds, a United States Department of Agriculture low-interest loan, a local loan, and a community-wide capital campaign that is set to kick off in the spring, along with a groundbreaking ceremony.

-Submitted photo illustration/CMBA Architects
Loring Hospital has been working with CMBA Architects out of Sioux City on their master plan for renovation. This rendering shows an iteration of the hospital’s future reception area.

“On behalf of all of us at Loring Hospital, we would like to thank our loyal community members for your ongoing support — especially as we navigate the construction process in upcoming months,” Johnson said. “Thank you for making Loring Hospital your local hospital of choice. We invite you to follow our journey as we work to create an optimal environment of health care serving our community for years to come.”

Loring Hospital is named after Frank W. Loring, who left most of his estate for the building and endowing of a hospital in Sac City. Loring aimed to have a hospital, which would be fully approved by the American Medical Association so it would be patronized by members of the medical profession and community.

The present site was purchased and included a large frame house which opened under the name of Loring Hospital in 1942, primarily as a maternity house. In the late 1940s, the trustees continued to work hard to follow through on the dreams of Loring. Another individual, Dr. C.D. Gibson, was instrumental in fundraising and promoting the building of the hospital. Generous donations from Sac County residents were added to the estate funds, and construction of the hospital began in 1948 by McCorkle Construction Co. The new 32-bed Loring Hospital held its open house on Sunday, Aug. 20, 1950.

In December 1965, architectural sketches of a 33-bed addition to Loring Hospital were revealed to the public. Aided by many volunteers, a successful financial drive was conducted, with donations being added to the Loring Trust. This campaign made possible the signing of contracts on April 1966 for the new hospital addition.

Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new addition were held on May 1, 1966. On July 18, 1967, patients were transferred from the old facility to the new addition and remodeling started to convert the old unit into an extended care unit. Loring Care Center admitted its first resident on Jan. 18, 1968.

In 1996, Loring Hospital launched a capital fund drive to build an outpatient clinic to connect the hospital with Medical Associates, PPMC. After carefully studying all the options, including renovation of the existing facility, the most efficient, patient-convenient and cost-effective option was to construct a new outpatient facility.

Loring Hospital receives no funds from tax levies and is supported strictly from funds generated from its ongoing business enterprises and by the generosity of the citizens it serves.