Saint Alphonsus Health System is undertaking a significant expansion of its facilities in the Boise metropolitan area, with projects planned in both Nampa and Meridian, Idaho. The initiatives, driven by a vision to increase access to care closer to where people live, represent a substantial investment in the region’s healthcare infrastructure.
Nampa Hospital Expansion: Doubling Capacity
The most extensive project involves a major expansion of the Saint Alphonsus Nampa hospital. Announced initially in November 2024, the expansion will more than double the hospital’s size, adding approximately 254,000 square feet of new space. This will be achieved through the construction of a new seven-story tower and a two-story vertical expansion of the existing hospital structure.
According to Saint Alphonsus CEO David McFadyen, the expansion is a direct response to capacity issues at the Nampa facility. He stated that the emergency room and inpatient units have been operating at capacity for approximately five years, while the Boise hospital has maintained more available beds. The expansion will add 64 new medical, surgical, and intensive care unit beds, with additional “shell space” reserved for future growth.
The need for increased capacity in Nampa underscores the growing demand for healthcare services in Canyon County and the surrounding areas. The expansion aims to alleviate pressure on existing resources and ensure that residents have access to timely and appropriate care.
North Meridian Health Plaza: Expanding Outpatient Services
Complementing the Nampa hospital expansion, Saint Alphonsus is also developing a new health plaza in North Meridian. Planned for a site off State Highway 16 and Chinden Boulevard, the approximately 80,000-square-foot facility will focus on providing a comprehensive range of outpatient services.
The North Meridian Health Plaza will house urgent care, a pharmacy, and laboratory services (Treasure Valley Lab Services). It will also include family practice, pediatric, OB-GYN, and maternal-fetal medicine clinics, as well as specialized services such as ear, nose, and throat treatment, audiology, and follow-up care for general surgery, cardiology, orthopedics, podiatry, and sports medicine. Physical therapy services will also be offered. Shell space is included on the first and third floors to accommodate future clinic additions.
McFadyen emphasized the importance of expanding access to routine and preventative care. “Most care that people need is not in a hospital,” he explained. “Most care can be provided in a lower-cost, outpatient care setting. And so that’s where we want to invest as much as possible.” This strategy reflects a broader trend in healthcare towards shifting care from expensive hospital settings to more accessible and affordable outpatient facilities.
Workforce and Project Timelines
The expansion projects will require a significant increase in staffing. The Nampa hospital expansion is expected to create between 140 and 250 new positions, while the North Meridian Health Plaza will need approximately 110 employees.
McFadyen acknowledged the challenges of recruiting healthcare professionals in Idaho but expressed confidence in the health system’s ability to attract and retain talent. He highlighted the success of their recruiting team, which focuses on national recruitment, and noted that Saint Alphonsus recruited over 183 providers in the previous year. The establishment of a family medicine residency program at the Nampa hospital is also seen as a key strategy for building a local pipeline of physicians.
The health system is also working to support broader initiatives aimed at increasing the number of healthcare professionals in the state, including collaborations with the WWAMI Regional Medical Education Program, the University of Utah, and the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Construction on the Nampa hospital expansion is slated to begin in June , with a projected completion date in Fall . The North Meridian project is expected to break ground this spring and be finished by late-spring . The projects are being funded through Saint Alphonsus’s affiliation with Trinity Health System, allowing for a significant financial investment without the need for local fundraising or loans.
These expansions represent a substantial commitment to improving healthcare access and quality in the Boise metropolitan area, reflecting Saint Alphonsus Health System’s ongoing efforts to meet the evolving needs of the communities it serves.
