Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas today unveiled its new seven-story patient tower and health services expansion. The 190,000-square-foot expansion cost $147 million and created 150 additional patient beds, as well as more cardiac and general operating rooms. The project included doubling the size of the hospital’s neonatal unit to 19 beds with a 24/7 Intensive Care Unit for premature babies.

Martine Pollard, Mercy’s executive director of communications and community integration, welcomed the crowd, which heard remarks from Eric Pianalto, Mercy Hospital president; Dr. Steve Goss, Mercy Clinic president; U.S. Sen. John Boozman; U.S. Rep. Steve Womack; Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson; and Rogers Mayor Greg Hines.

The hospital group spent more than 18 months researching the demand needs and looking at gaps in care across the region before it unveiled its $247 million expansion plan in 2016. The investment was expanded to $277 million and included a multi-specialty clinic in Springdale and four additional primary care clinics in Bentonville, Centerton and Pea Ridge.

Mercy’s five-year plan, which runs through 2020, was expected to add 1,000 jobs. To date, roughly 900 of those jobs have been filled.

This expansion is a strong step toward Northwest Arkansas becoming a healthcare destination, and it’s one of several major healthcare expansions across the region in recent years. Those expansions include the construction of Arkansas Children’s Northwest, a children’s hospital in Springdale, and a 133,000-square-foot, five-story tower that opened in late 2016 at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville.