Agnesian HealthCare Foundation Announces $8.5 Million Expansion

Dale Michels suffered a heart attack back in 1998. As his son, Pat Michels explained Wednesday afternoon, “at the time my father suffered his heart attack, St. Agnes was not able to provide the level of care that he needed and the hospital was preparing to transfer my dad to a Milwaukee heart center.”

Flight for Life was called but couldn’t make the trip, due to engine issues. It took a fair amount of time to secure vehicle transportation down to Milwaukee, and Pat Michels said, “I’m convinced that, if we would have had access to adequate heart care then, my dad might still be alive today.”

Dale Michels passed away shortly after his heart attack at the age of 65.

The Michels Family Foundation, represented by Pat, Tim and Kevin Michels, announced Wednesday afternoon that a $3 million gift was being given to kick off an $8.5 million expansion of the SSM Health Dale Michels Heart and Vascular Care.

“With heart disease a major concern, we wanted to educate our community on good heart health and support a necessary facility of cardiac excellence and critical care.”

Construction of the expansion is scheduled to start in June, and will feature an addition of a Cardiac Electrophysiology Lab, addition of three additional prep/recovery rooms, renovated reception area, new private consultation room, expanded employee spaces to better accommodate increased staff sizes, aesthetic improvements to ICU and a new, semi-private family waiting area.

The expansion is expected to be completed in 5 phases, to minimize disruption to patient care, and take up to a year to complete.