New Maine Coast Emergency Department is 80 Percent Complete

ELLSWORTH — A project to build a new emergency department at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital is 80 percent completed, hospital officials announced Monday.

These stilts are the height of efficiency, according to one of the hospital construction crew. Wearing the stilts is much faster when working near ceilings than moving a ladder around.—JENNIFER OSBORN

Maine Coast, which expects to open the new wing in March, has been leading a capital campaign to raise $5 million for the $10-million project.

Bob Merrill, president of the hospital’s Board of Trustees, said to date $3.2 million has been raised, leaving $1.8 million to finish the campaign.

The hospital has already begun using part of the new addition. The administrative offices, such as public relations and payroll, many of which had been housed in trailers previously, have been moved in to the new offices.

New Emergency Center, named after hospital benefactor F. Eugene Dixon Jr.

— 24,100-square-foot addition (10,000 square feet will be dedicated to emergency department, the rest will house administration)

—15 rooms/15 beds

—Anticipated Completion: March

Cost: $10 million

 

Existing Emergency Room

2,500 square feet

Six rooms/eight beds

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