Administrators at Langlade Hospital hope their new facility will continue to provide excellent health care while encouraging more people to use their services.

The new hospital opened Sunday, replacing an 80-year-old hospital built during World War II. It's owned and operated by the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph, in partnership with Aspirus.

It has 23 in-patient beds, three surgical operating rooms and an emergency room all connected to the current General Clinic.

Executive Director David Schneider says the old hospital was deterioriating and administrators had to choose between pouring millions of dollars into upgrading the old building or building a new one on the existing campus.

"We budgeted $45 million for the new hospital and renovations to the Aspirus General Clinic and we should come in well under budget," Schneider said.

He says when building the hospital, their goal was to be able to provide better patient privacy, safety and comfort and the new building helps to achieve that goal.

It's also energy efficient and is projected to save on heating costs by 40 percent.

In June the old building will be razed and a parking lot will be installed.