The launch of the $39.8 million surgical center construction and renovation project was the major highlight of 2025 at the Fort Dodge hospital. The work will continue through this year, with completion expected in March 2027.

Leah Glasgo, market president of UnityPoint Health — Fort Dodge, described the project as a “bold step forward for health care in our community.”

“We’re investing in what matters most — patient outcomes and safety,” she said during a June 19 groundbreaking ceremony for the project.

The project will consolidate all inpatient and outpatient surgery services in a new area just west of the main entrance of the hospital. It involves a new addition on the front of the building and renovations within the existing building.

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This is what the new operating rooms will look like after the surgical center project is completed. There will be five operating rooms.

When complete, the center will feature five operating rooms, two endoscopy suites, 24 pre- and post-operative rooms and the central sterilization facility.

Now, the hospital’s inpatient and outpatient surgery areas are in two different places in the building. The current inpatient surgery area opened in 1979 and remains essentially unchanged.

Casey and Deb Johnson, of Fort Dodge, are leading a campaign to raise about $3 million to help pay for the project.

While launching the building project, Unity Point Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center also made a much less visible investment in improved surgical care during 2025. The hospital acquired a da Vinci Xi Surgical System, which is a robot fully controlled by surgeons that enables them to do very precise work.

Glasgo said use of the robot provides better patient outcomes and faster recovery times. She said it has been used in 100 cases so far.

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This is another view of one of the operating rooms that will be created as part of the surgical center expansion and renovation. The new operating rooms will replace in-patient operating rooms built in 1979.

She added that since today’s surgeons are trained on devices like da Vinci Xi, having one is essential for recruiting and retaining surgeons.

The hospital also installed a new MRI machine, which Glasgo described as “really essential for any diagnostic imaging.” It was put into use Oct. 1.

During 2025, the hospital marked a couple of milestones.

The new Trinity Heart Center marked one year of seeing patients after quickly being created to replace the local presence of Iowa Heart Center.

The hospital also conducted its second summer internship program in which youths spent a couple weeks at the hospital learning about all of the different careers there.

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This is one of the 24 pre- and post-operative rooms that will be created as part of the surgical center expansion and renovation project. Patients will be cared for in these rooms before and after their surgeries.

“It turned out to be a really fun event with kids who are exploring health care as a career,” Glasgo said.

A third edition of the internship program will be held this summer.

In 2025, a new Patient and Family Advisory Council was established. Glasgo said it is intended to “elevate the voices of those receiving care.”

“I’m really excited to see the value they’ll deliver to us,” she said.

While all the new technology is important, Glasgo said the staff is the real key to the success of the hospital.

“The reason we are successful is we have amazing employees here,” she said.

She said Fort Dodge is recognized in the UnityPoint Health system for having one of the highest levels of employee engagement.

The completion of the surgery center project will be a major focus throughout this year. Glasgo said the work is on track for the scheduled March 2027 completion date.

The hospital has applied for a healthy Hometown Grant with the goal of obtaining a PET/CT imaging device this year. Glasgo said it is similar to a CT machine and is used to diagnose cancer.

In general, the hospital will be striving to grow its surgery and specialty services throughout 2026, according to Glasgo.