A 42,000-square-foot addition was constructed over the course of about a year and a half. The new space houses rehabilitation, pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation, the specialty clinic, diabetes and nutrition services, and the UnityPoint Health Primary Care Clinic.

Ground was broken in March 2024. The project’s completion was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in September 2025.

The project was approved by the hospital’s board in March 2023.

“There have been many changes in health care, particularly rural health care, over the past several years,” Matt Johnson, the hospital’s chief executive officer, told The Messenger when plans for the expansion were announced. “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.”

-Submitted photo
Hospital officials stand inside the new addition at Loring Hospital in Sac City.

The expansion is a $40.7 million investment.

The bulk of that money, $37.1 million, came from a United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development loan.

The Loring Health Care Foundation contributed $750,000.

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.