Mosaic Life Care breaks ground on new heart, lung and vascular center in the facility 

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV)-- A ceremonial groundbreaking on Wednesday marked the start of a new addition in Mosaic Life Care as leaders, physicians and staff celebrated the future home of its Heart, Lung and Vascular Center. 

For Dr. Jane Schwabe, a medical director of cardiothoracic surgery, the project is about making care easier for patients. 

“The patients quite often see cardiac surgery, the pulmonologist, the cardiologist and vascular surgeon at one time or another and sometimes at the same time and it should be convenient for them,” she said.  

She mentioned the purpose is to make it easier for patients to stop by a single building and potentially see all the doctors they need.  

They will also house their cardiac rehab in the same building in the basement so patients who have had a heart attack or heart surgery can be downstairs exercising, making it easier for doctors to get them checked if need be.  

Schwabe said the plan for this project has been in the planning for a while. And the project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2028.  

“As we are getting more physicians and more different areas of expertise, this will be something that brings us into the next twenty years,” she added.  

Instead of traveling between multiple locations, patients will be able to visit one building and potentially see all the specialists they need in a single trip. 

The new center will also include cardiac rehabilitation in the building's basement. Patients recovering from a heart attack or heart surgery will be able to complete their rehabilitation exercises while remaining close to their care team if they need medical attention. 

Schwabe said the project has been in the works for quite some time, with construction expected to wrap up in the summer of 2028.  

“We have talked about growing the program starting with one and then moving to 12 or 13 cardiologists, more nurse practitioners, several vascular surgeons, which is our next step to be more innovative,” Schwabe said.  

She asked the community to be patient during construction, noting how parking may be disrupted for a while.  

In the long run, however, she said having heart, lung and vascular services under one roof will make a big difference for patients. 

For Lacey Clark, director of cardiology, pulmonary and vascular services, the groundbreaking represents years of growth and planning.

“I hope people understand that we put our hearts into everything we do here. It’s not just about a building; it’s not just about having a big flashy place to come to; it’s about the care and the people in the building,” Clark said.  

She pointed out how the team takes pride in delivering innovative care and the new center will help them continue building on that commitment. 

“Providing care, the best care or the most innovative care with all collaborating together, it is a great thing for the community as well as the area surrounding us,” Clark said.  

For Clark, the project is also deeply personal. She said she grew up around cardiology after losing her mother to a heart condition when she was a child, giving her an even greater appreciation for the work being done. 

She hopes the new center will show people that they don't have to travel to a larger city to receive advanced cardiovascular care.