MANKATO — Immanuel St. Joseph’s says it will spend nearly $30 million this summer to add a new emergency department to its Mankato hospital.

Construction is expected to start in July and last about a year.

Greg Kutcher is the hospital’s president and chief executive. He says the current emergency department was designed for about 18,000 patients per year, but it currently serves 10,000 patients more than that.

Construction at the Mayo Health Systems hospital will include a new emergency room and ambulance garage.

Kutcher says the new hospital will put an emphasis on privacy. Patients will have individual rooms, not beds separated by curtains.