Editor's Note: The following story has been corrected to reflect that Saint Francis Hospital is a Catholic organization. It is sponsored by the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau and follows the ethical and religious directives of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The governance of Saint Francis Medical Center is overseen by a community board of directors. Each board member is approved by the Rev. James Vann Johnston Jr., bishop of the diocese.

DEXTER, Mo. -- With the promise of providing a needed choice for health care closer to home, Saint Francis Medical Partners is planning a presence in Dexter with the construction of its Dexter Health Campus, a facility of more than 45,000 square feet to be housed at U.S. 60 and Harris Drive.

"We've been caring for the people of your community for a long time," Jason Bandermann, director of Ambulatory Services and administrator of Physicians Alliance Surgery Center for Saint Francis, told the full membership of Dexter's Chamber of Commerce late last week. "And now we want to increase our commitment to the people of this area."

Bandermann was the keynote speaker at the luncheon. He provided local chamber members with an overview of what will be Dexter's second major medical facility to be constructed in recent years within the city limits. In September, SoutheastHEALTH Center of Stoddard County completed Phase One of a two-phase project at the local hospital on One Mile Road with the official opening of a $3 million medical office building expansion.

In late October, Saint Francis broke ground for what is proposed to be a world-class health campus with services to include imaging capabilities, on site cancer specialists, a fully equipped lab, outpatient physical therapy, heart specialists, primary and urgent care and a Fitness Plus center -- complete with an indoor lap pool and walking track.

Saint Francis purchased a 16-acre tract at the corner of the Outer Road just off Harris Drive in 2013. Some of that land, Bandermann stated, is available for further development.

"We are not developers," he said. "We'd like to see some growth come out of that area that would benefit Dexter."

The Dexter Health Campus is expected to be completed in January 2016 at a cost of about $12 million. In the meantime, however, Saint Francis will have a presence in the community in a facility at 115 East Business Hwy. 60, what is commonly referred to as the "Rehm Clinic" facility. That building has recently undergone a remodel, and physicians are expected to be in place at the temporary facility in January.