Avera unveils plans to broaden mental health services with large-scale projects

Health system to expand services at campuses in Aberdeen, Sioux Falls

Avera Health is expanding behavioral health options in both Aberdeen and Sioux Falls.

In Aberdeen, a new 18-unit behavioral health space will be developed on the fourth floor of the main hospital on South State Street. It will replace the 10-unit behavioral health space on the second floor.

That expansion will be partially funded through a $2.4 million grant from the South Dakota Department of Social Services, American Rescue Plan funding and a $1.5 million gift from Aberdeen-based Dacotah Bank to the Avera Foundation.

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The final cost isn’t yet known, but Avera St. Lukes President and CEO Dan Bjerknes said he expects it will be “well north” of the $3.9 million identified so far.

The Sioux Falls expansion will add 16 beds for adult care using shell space in the Helmsley Behavioral Health Center.  It will be paid for with $2.1 million in federal appropriations through a non-competitive grant supported by U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds and $1.2 million from the South Dakota Department of Social Services and American Rescue Plan funding.

Behavioral health space will be in northwest area of fourth floor of Aberdeen hospital

The renovation at St. Luke’s will further enhance the fourth floor, which is also home to the women’s center in the southeast corner of the L-shaped floor. The new behavioral health space will be in the northwest corner, making better use of that space.

Part of the fourth floor at Avera St. Luke’s will be renovated into an 18-bed unit for behavioral health services. (Courtesy image)

This is the second behavioral health expansion announcement for the Aberdeen campus. A plan announced in 2022 included demolition of part of the Physician’s Plaza to allow for construction of new behavioral health space.

Bjerknes said that plan was put on hold as improvements were made to the Women’s Center. While on hold, he said, staff took a look at the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed space and found creating one new area with sufficient rooms would be a better alternative.