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Essentia Health-Virginia breaks ground on new emergency department
May 20, 2026 By: Anthony Matt
Essentia Health staff, community partners, local leaders and elected officials gathered Wednesday, May 20, to break ground on a new emergency department at Essentia Health-Virginia, marking the start of construction on a $13 million project that will improve the patient experience and strengthen emergency care on the Iron Range.
“Essentia Health is proud to invest in this project, ensuring high-quality emergency care is easily accessible on the Iron Range,” said Sam Stone, Essentia Health-Virginia administrator. “The expanded emergency department will help us better meet the needs of our patients and families by adding additional rooms for patient care, enhanced safety and security measures and new technology. From our construction and emergency department teams to legislators and donors, we are grateful to the people driving this project forward.”
The $13 million project will nearly double the size of the current emergency department, adding five exam rooms and a dedicated behavioral health suite, supporting timely and specialized care. The new emergency department will include enhanced safety measures for patients and staff, new state-of-the-art technology and dedicated registration and lobby space for patients and families.
Essentia Health leaders and staff were joined at the groundbreaking by Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Commissioner Ida Rukavina; Virginia Mayor Larry Cuffe; Virginia public safety leaders; the Iron Range Building and Construction Trades; and local legislators Senator Rob Farnsworth and Representatives Cal Warwas and Roger Skraba to celebrate this investment.
“This is a meaningful investment for our hospital, our medical teams and for the entire community,” said Dr. Brian Junnila, emergency medicine physician and section chair at Essentia Health-Virginia. “This expansion will support timely patient care and strengthen behavioral health resources in Virginia. We’re grateful for all the work that has brought us to this point and look forward to seeing this project come to life.”
The project will be completed in phases to ensure continuity of care throughout the duration of construction. All non-emergent patients and visitors, including urgent care, surgery and radiology patients, should use the west entrance of the hospital. Patients seeking emergency care should continue to use the emergency entrance.
“The men and women of the Iron Range Building Trades are proud to build an expanded, state-of-the-art emergency department at Essentia Health-Virginia,” said Jason Quiggin, Iron Range Building Trades president. “We thank Essentia for their commitment to supporting union workers and for investing in the next generation of rural healthcare on the Range.”
Funding for the project comes from Essentia Health, Essentia’s regional foundation and donors and a $3.3 million contribution from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board. Construction is expected to be completed in spring 2027, generating good-paying construction jobs during the duration of the work. As one of the top employers in the region, Essentia Health drives over $583 million in economic output and supports over 1,600 jobs on the Iron Range according to a third-party economic impact report.
“Essentia Health is proud to invest in this project, ensuring high-quality emergency care is easily accessible on the Iron Range,” said Sam Stone, Essentia Health-Virginia administrator. “The expanded emergency department will help us better meet the needs of our patients and families by adding additional rooms for patient care, enhanced safety and security measures and new technology. From our construction and emergency department teams to legislators and donors, we are grateful to the people driving this project forward.”
The $13 million project will nearly double the size of the current emergency department, adding five exam rooms and a dedicated behavioral health suite, supporting timely and specialized care. The new emergency department will include enhanced safety measures for patients and staff, new state-of-the-art technology and dedicated registration and lobby space for patients and families.
Essentia Health leaders and staff were joined at the groundbreaking by Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Commissioner Ida Rukavina; Virginia Mayor Larry Cuffe; Virginia public safety leaders; the Iron Range Building and Construction Trades; and local legislators Senator Rob Farnsworth and Representatives Cal Warwas and Roger Skraba to celebrate this investment.
“This is a meaningful investment for our hospital, our medical teams and for the entire community,” said Dr. Brian Junnila, emergency medicine physician and section chair at Essentia Health-Virginia. “This expansion will support timely patient care and strengthen behavioral health resources in Virginia. We’re grateful for all the work that has brought us to this point and look forward to seeing this project come to life.”
The project will be completed in phases to ensure continuity of care throughout the duration of construction. All non-emergent patients and visitors, including urgent care, surgery and radiology patients, should use the west entrance of the hospital. Patients seeking emergency care should continue to use the emergency entrance.
“The men and women of the Iron Range Building Trades are proud to build an expanded, state-of-the-art emergency department at Essentia Health-Virginia,” said Jason Quiggin, Iron Range Building Trades president. “We thank Essentia for their commitment to supporting union workers and for investing in the next generation of rural healthcare on the Range.”
Funding for the project comes from Essentia Health, Essentia’s regional foundation and donors and a $3.3 million contribution from the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board. Construction is expected to be completed in spring 2027, generating good-paying construction jobs during the duration of the work. As one of the top employers in the region, Essentia Health drives over $583 million in economic output and supports over 1,600 jobs on the Iron Range according to a third-party economic impact report.
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