ROCKFORD—A groundbreaking ceremony was held on June 24 at OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center for a two-year, $85-million bed pavilion building project.

Whenever we focus on helping others, said Father Pierre Polycarpe, director of pastoral care services, in his invocation, “we are God’s co-workers.”

His prayer for the safety of all who will work to construct the building and his blessing for all who work in the medical field flowed into an address by Sister Judith Ann Duvall, chair of OSF HealthCare and Major Superior for the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis.

Sister Judith Ann spoke about the “innovative and high-tech patient tower” and expressed gratitude to God “for His abundant blessings at OSF … who has called all of us to this service of love.”

Paula Carynski, president of OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, introduced the sisters who were present for the event, saying that “we work for amazing, highly talented and caring” sisters. The Franciscan sister-visitors included Sister Therese Ann Brazeau and Sister Josephina Neumann who served many years at the medical center.

With the influence of the religious sisters’ leadership, “we understand that everything we do is about the patient,” Carynski said.

The upcoming changes “will serve the entire community,” she added, and described the 78 private rooms in the 144,247 square foot, four-story pavilion as providing better rest, infection control and family space. Patient rooms in the existing hospital will be converted to private rooms, leading to a total of 190 private patient rooms when the project is completed.

Some ambulatory services will be offered on the first floor of the new building, including PromptCare. Women’s services will be relocated to the new building, and space is planned for a retail pharmacy.