MRH secures State approval for new Emergency Department to serve growing needs of Katahdin Region
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2024
Contact:
Katie Mackin
kmackin@mrhme.org
(207) 723-7273
MRH secures State approval for new Emergency Department to serve growing needs of Katahdin Region
MILLINOCKET, ME – Millinocket Regional Hospital (MRH) has received final approval from the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to move forward with the expansion and renovation of its Emergency Department (ED). This significant milestone marks the beginning of a transformative project that will enhance healthcare access and quality for the residents of the Katahdin Region and more than 250,000+ tourists that visit the region annually.
This facility upgrade will offer:
- Enhanced Patient Experience: The new Emergency Department will provide a more comfortable and efficient experience for patients with state-of-the-art facilities, increased capacity, and reduced wait times.
- Advanced Medical Care: The expanded facility will offer specialized treatment rooms, including dedicated trauma, cardiac, and behavioral health areas, ensuring optimal care for a wider range of patients.
- Improved Safety and Efficiency: The modern design incorporates rooms with the option of negative or positive air pressure to protect patients and staff from airborne pathogens, a decontamination room, and a larger ambulance entrance to manage emergencies more safely and effectively.
Millinocket Regional Hospital is committed to providing exceptional healthcare services to the Millinocket community and beyond, and this new Emergency Department is a testament to that dedication to improving the health and well-being of patients.
“This is an exciting event in the rich history of MRH,” said Dr. Robert Peterson, Chief Executive Officer of MRH. “We are building a modernized facility capable of meeting the needs of the communities we serve for decades to come. It is an honor and a privilege to be part of something this meaningful and significant to the vitality of the Katahdin region.”
The project will be completed in two phases. The first phase will include the construction of a new main entrance and ED expansion. Emergency services will continue to be delivered in the current ED until the new construction is complete. At that time, ED operations will move into the new space, the new main entrance will open, and phase two, the renovation of the current ED space, will begin. At the completion of the renovation, the two sections will be joined together as a single modern unit.
Groundbreaking is expected to occur before the end of December, and the project is estimated to take 14 months to complete. During that time, MRH will continue to operate all services as usual.
Dr. Peterson acknowledged that the next year will not come without its challenges to parking and access but believes the completed project will be worth the temporary inconveniences.
During construction, patients will continue to have access to the hospital campus via Poplar, Somerset, and Spruce Streets, however, the main entrance to the hospital building will be temporarily closed. Visitors and patients accessing the Emergency Department, Laboratory, and Diagnostic Imaging should use the North entrance off Spruce Street. Clear signage will be posted throughout the campus to assist with wayfinding.
Additional information, including a map of the temporary entrance and visitor parking, will be disseminated in the coming weeks.
This impactful capital project was made possible through extensive grant funding and support from the Penobscot County Commissioners, Sen. Susan Collins and Sen. Angus King, as well as the generous support of individuals. If you would like to be a part of transforming and solidifying the future of healthcare in the Katahdin Region, help close the funding gap by providing your tax-deductible contribution at mrhme.org/giving.
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About Millinocket Regional Hospital
Millinocket Regional Hospital (MRH) is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital nestled at the base of Baxter State Park that provides vital healthcare services to those who live, work, and play in the Katahdin Region. Beyond the friendly staff and award-winning, individualized patient care, MRH provides acute inpatient and outpatient services as well as an impressive range of general and specialty services from orthopedic and general surgery to cancer care.
Providing jobs to approximately 250 people, MRH is the largest employer in the Katahdin Region and an essential economic driver within its community. For more information, visit mrhme.org or facebook.com/MillinocketRegionalHospital