Copley Hospital Breaks Ground on Medical Office Building in Waterbury

Those joining Orthopaedic Surgeon John Macy, MD and Joe Woodin in breaking ground for our new Medical Office Building include (l to r) John Connor of Connor Contracting; Mark Sutton, Director of Facilities, Safety & Security; Nancy Banks, Chair Copley Board of Trustees; Sarah Waring, State Director for USDA Rural Development and Jeff Hebert, Chief Financial Officer.

Copley Hospital broke ground yesterday on a new medical office building and clinic for Mansfield Orthopaedics, a department of Copley Hospital with locations in Morrisville and Waterbury. Scheduled to open in late summer of 2024, the 10,000-square-foot facility located a mile off VT I-89 will improve patient access, reduce wait times for much-needed orthopaedic and podiatry services, and facilitate more coordinated and comprehensive care. Funding for the project will come from $1,000,000 in community support and $6.6 million of a $10.9 million loan and grant from USDA Rural Development. The remaining $4.3 million in funding from USDA Rural Development will be used to refinance existing construction debt.

The Waterbury clinic will include 14 exam rooms and 2 diagnostic imaging rooms with x-ray machines. A private, secure intake area will improve patient privacy and processing, while a more open and efficient layout will allow providers to offer the highest-quality care without competing for space and resources.

Copley Hospital CEO Joseph Woodin said, “Everything we do at Copley is focused on meeting the needs of our patients and delivering exceptional, timely, and compassionate care. But we can only do that if our providers have the space and resources they need. This new medical office building will allow us to expand access to essential orthopaedic and podiatry services for our patients. We are grateful for the support of our community and the USDA in helping to fund the project.”

“We are honored to direct this crucial funding to such a deserving group of medical professionals,” said Sarah Waring, State Director for USDA Rural Development. “To help make the lives and work of the doctors, nurses, and staff on the ground easier and more productive—the tireless people who take care of us in some of our worst moments—is a commitment with an infinite return on investment. This modernization of space and services embodies the Biden-Harris Administration’s mission to ensure quality of life for rural Americans, resulting in better health care access, more options, and improved health maintenance across the U.S. and here in Vermont.”

The population surrounding the new medical office building in Washington, Lamoille, and Chittenden Counties is projected to continue to grow through 2030. In addition, the population of Vermonters aged 65 and older is projected to increase at a significant rate over the next five years. The relocation and expansion of the new medical office building directly addresses the demand for critical services among growing demographics while it reduces problematic delays and disruptions to care when it is most needed.

About Copley Hospital

Copley is greater Lamoille County’s nonprofit community hospital. Copley provides a unique blend of quality, compassionate, personalized, state-of-the-art medical care in its core services, including emergency services, imaging, general surgery and orthopaedics, and women and children’s services, along with access to a variety of medical specialists including cardiology, oncology, sleep medicine and neurology on its campus in Morrisville, Vermont. Copley has been named a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital, a HealthStrong hospital, and one of the Top 50 hospitals in New England based on patient satisfaction. For more information, visit https://www.copleyvt.org/

About Mansfield Orthopaedics

Mansfield Orthopaedics offers a comprehensive range of evidence-based orthopaedic treatments and techniques to help patients regain their mobility and get back to doing the things they love as soon as possible. The practice, which is part of Copley Hospital and was founded in 1992, includes six surgeons, two podiatrists, seven Physician Assistants, two Nurse Practitioners, and three registered nurses, who see patients in Morrisville and Waterbury. All surgeries are performed at Copley Hospital in Morrisville, Vermont. For more information, visit https://mansfieldorthopaedics.com/

About USDA Rural Development

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/vt-nh