RAPID CITY, S.D. — On Tuesday, Monument Health announced that they will be contributing $2 million to the new West River Area Health Education Center that will be built at Black Hills State University’s campus in Rapid City.
The $15 million West River Health Science Center is a coordinated effort between BHSU, South Dakota State University College of Nursing and the West River Area Health Education Center.
Monument Health says that the center will allow the SDSU College of Nursing to fully move to this site by creating room for nursing skills labs, a simulation center and nursing faculty offices.
“Monument Health cares for 450,000 people in western South Dakota and surrounding states. Although the Health Science Center will be located in Rapid City, its graduates will be serving patients from throughout the region,” said Paulette Davidson, president and CEO of Monument Health. “Western South Dakota needs more registered nurses, and the need will increase in the future.”
Monument Health also says that the facility could nearly double the region’s capacity to educate and train new registered nurses, as the center anticipates the number of graduates will increase each semester from 72 to 120 when open.
In addition to the contribution, Monument Health will be the exclusive naming rights sponsor for the science center and be able to use the facility to provide continuing education and training to nurses.
Construction of the West River Area Health Education Center is anticipated to start in fall 2023.
