A controversial new hospital project in North Liberty, Iowa, is once again making the news as its University of Iowa Health Care operators are highlighting the location's future use as a major orthopedic center against local community wishes, The Gazette reported Jan. 4.

MultiPlan, a healthcare analytics and revenue analysis company, awarded its 2022 Rural Health Grant to Boise City, Okla.-based Cimarron Memorial Hospital and Cheyenne County Hospital in St. Francis, Kan.

El Segundo, Calif.-based Pipeline Health System has completed the sale of two Chicago-area hospitals as part of its bankruptcy proceedings, according to a Jan. 3 Wednesday Journal report.

Wabasha, Minn.-based Gundersen St. Elizabeth's Hospital is set to use $250,000 in earmarked federal funding to upgrade its 100-bed long-term care unit, the Post Bulletin reported Jan. 2.

Athens-based University of Georgia is collaborating with Catoosa County to develop future uses for the CHI Memorial Hospital Georgia building as the hospital plans to move to a Fort Oglethorpe location, the Chattanooga Free Press reported Jan. 1.

Lewiston, Idaho-based St. Joseph Regional Medical Center is beginning construction of a new $6 million rehabilitation unit, which will be the only one of its type within a 100-mile radius. The unit should be complete by mid-June 2023, the hospital said Dec.29.

Dallas-based Medical City Healthcare plans to build a new 65,000-square-foot mental health hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, to meet growing demand for such facilities in the area.

Bristol, Pa.-based Lower Bucks Hospital will double its intensive care unit bed count from 10 to 22 through a $1.2 million expansion project, the Levittown Patch reported Dec. 29.

Irving, Texas-based Christus Health tapped Skanska AB, a Swedish construction firm, for a $95 million expansion project of Christus Santa Rosa Hospital-Westover Hills Hospital in San Antonio, Markets Insider reported Dec. 29.

The construction of a new $400 million hospital for Lancaster, Calif.-based Antelope Valley Medical Center was taken one step closer to reality following approval by the system's new board of directors to set up a $50 million investment vehicle, according to an Antelope Valley Press Dec. 27 report.

Lakewood Ranch (Fla.) Medical Center is planning a $120 million expansion to increase hospital capacity, according to the Herald-Tribune.

Providence Seaside (Ore.) Hospital, Astoria-based Columbia Memorial Hospital and Warrenton-based Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare backed two Oregon affordable housing projects with $500,000 grants, The Astorian reported Dec. 28.

ApolloMD, a clinical services provider for hospitals and health systems, and Cascade365, an accounts receivable company for healthcare, partnered up to work with RIP Medical Debt to eliminate more than $350 million of medical debt.

While many rural facilities face an uncertain future, one Oklahoma hospital is expanding its services following its acquisition by a California cardiologist and a more than $5 million renovation, the Pawhuska Journal-Capital reported Dec. 27.

Clinton, Mo.-based Golden Valley Memorial Healthcare broke ground on a new radiation and oncology facility near its main Clinton campus.

Becker's has reported on three hospitals or health systems experiencing infrastructure issues with its construction since Nov. 15:

Some hospital building projects are being put on hold amid inflationary pressures as potential final costs threaten to exceed original budget plans.

Becker's has reported on more than 100 hospital and health system projects worth $100 million or more in 2022, including 20 with a $1 billion price tag or higher.

Sixteen Democratic state legislators have signed a letter opposing Tewksbury, Mass.-based Covenant Health's planned acquisition of Putnam, Conn.-based Day Kimball Hospital based on concerns that the Catholic health system could limit reproductive and other types of care, The Connecticut Mirror reported Dec. 22.

Monmouth Medical Center, part of RWJBarnabas Health, has paid about $8 million to acquire a Trinton Falls, N.J., property from the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority after more than four years of negotiations, the Asbury Park Press reported Dec. 20.