Improving the delivery of health care services at United Hospital District in Blue Earth is not only evident at ground level.

Now, it’s entered the realm of cyberspace.

“It’s fantastic,” UHD administrator Jeff Lang told the board of directors on Tuesday.

He was referring to their new and improved Web site — www.uhd.org — launched on Monday, Jan. 4.

Lang says Cande Arends, UHD’s chief nursing officer, spent countless hours working with a marketing firm on the project.

Arends says the hospital has had a Web site for about eight years, so it was time to update it.

“It’s just the beginning of an ongoing effort to get information out to the community on the services we provide,” she says.

About six months ago, UHD hired Red Door Creative of Mankato.

Arends says a five-step marketing plan was developed to enhance the district’s image.

“This (Web site) is number three of that plan,” she adds.

A UHD employee handles any updates made to the front page, while a ‘webmaster’ is in charge of making any other changes.The Web site offers information on medical staff and services, locations of facilities, career and volunteering opportunities.

In addition, news from UHD, web nursery, events and classes offered, patient and visitor information and answers to frequently asked questions is provided.

Although the Web site has a new look, Arends says she and the ad agency are always looking for ways to tweak it to make it better.

In other business, the board was given a progress report on two building projects costing $19.5 million.

Rain, snow and cold temperatures have put the hospital campus expansion more than two months behind schedule.

“The weather has been a big issue the last 30 days. It has been very difficult for the workers outside, as well as just doing things around the hospital we need to do,” says Lang. “It has been very, very tough.”

A construction specialist from Kraus-Anderson has been hired to put the project back on schedule. Fees for services will be paid out of the contingency fund.

The hospital expansion and renovation is expected to be completed in late 2011.

Work on the Winnebago Adolescent Treatment Center is moving along.

“They’re pretty close to having that building fully enclosed,” Lang says.

Completion of the 17,500-square foot facility is targeted for March.