WinnMed Hosts Open House and Community Picnic to Showcase New Clinic Expansion

Decorah Vikings win, City Council votes, New Referenda on the ballot — we're the one telling Decorah's story. Donate now. DECORAH — WinnMed welcomed community members to an open house and picnic Wednesday, giving the public its first inside look at the health system's new clinic expansion—part of its multiyear Transforming Tomorrow project aimed at modernizing patient care across the region. Chief Nursing Officer Kathy Moritz led attendees through the new facility, explaining that the clinic marks the third phase of the ambitious project. "This is our clinic expansion," Moritz told the group. "We have three phases. The first phase was our obstetrics unit, and that opened in January of this year. Then we expanded our operating rooms, and they opened in May. The clinic expansion is the third phase, and we're planning that opening this month." The expansion adds two floors of modernized clinic space designed for easier navigation and improved coordination of care. According to Moritz, the upper level will house primary care and occupational health, while the lower level will include surgical specialties such as general surgery, ear, nose and throat, neurology, and dermatology. "Orthopedics and sports medicine will stay where it is right now, just down the hall," Moritz added. Visitors toured what Moritz described as the clinic's new "main street," a bright, central corridor connecting registration, waiting areas and care rooms. Patients will enter through the main entrance, check in, and be guided by patient care coordinators to their exam rooms. The new clinic design emphasizes privacy and calm. Exam rooms have been configured to minimize noise from phones and staff movement, creating "a quieter environment for both patients and providers". Wold Architects and Engineers, the architects of the project, are a Minneapolis-based architectural and engineering firm with extensive healthcare design expertise, with a long-standing relationship with WinnMed. The expanded clinic includes multiple team spaces, procedure rooms and upgraded technology to streamline communication and patient support. Nurse call systems, private dictation rooms and expanded storage were all part of the design, which was developed with both staff efficiency and patient comfort in mind. The clinic is the latest milestone in WinnMed's Transforming Tomorrow project, a systemwide investment in facilities and technology. The effort began with the fully renovated obstetrics unit, which opened in December 2024, featuring six new birthing, labor and delivery suites and a modern nursery. That area, now in full use, has been described by patients as having "a peaceful atmosphere, updated amenities and attentive care." In May 2025, WinnMed also opened two new operating rooms built to support advanced technology, including the da Vinci 5 Surgical Robot, which enhances surgical precision and recovery times. The full surgical remodel is on track for completion in February 2026. The clinic's official opening is scheduled for late October 2025, when expanded specialty and family care services will begin seeing patients. As community members enjoyed the open house and picnic, many expressed excitement about what the expansion means for local health care. For WinnMed's team, the project represents years of effort and a major step forward in their commitment to comprehensive, compassionate care. "Our goal was to remodel the whole space," Moritz said, noting that some older areas will continue to be used until future capital projects are approved. "It's still very usable space, and we'll keep using it." The clinic expansion continues WinnMed's mission to make high-quality health care more accessible for families throughout northeast Iowa and beyond. Become a part of the exclusive circle! Subscribe to the newsletter for free and gain access to special offers, bonus content and insider perks.