HEALTH PAGES PBMC BREAKS GROUND FOR HEALTH CENTER
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eremonial shovels in hand, Pen Bay Medical Center (PBMC) officials last week broke ground for a new 41,513-square-foot health center designed to meet the needs of the growing population in our Midcoast communities. More than 75 hospital officials, employees, political leaders and community members attended the event. The $16 million building will sit on the PBMC campus just off Anchor Drive between the hospital and the Sussman House. “Just a few years ago, we faced a pressing shortage of primary care physicians,” Mark Fourre, MD, president of Pen Bay Medical Center and Waldo County General Hospital, told those in attendance. The hospital responded by hiring more than 40 physicians, with a focus on primary care and pediatrics. “Our challenge now is to house these new physicians— and our existing physicians—in a space that empowers them to provide the best care possible for our patients.” More than just housing new physicians, the Health Center has been designed to make it easier for physicians to communicate with each other.“I can’t emphasize enough how important this is,” Fourre said. “The informal and collegial communication among providers is essential to bringing our patients the best care possible.” “This building will improve the health care we bring to the community by making it easier for physicians and staff to collaborate and connect patients with the wellness, prevention and specialty services they need,” said Mark Eggena, MD, chief medical officer at PBMC and co-chair of the capital campaign committee. Other speakers included Richard Petersen, president of MaineHealth; Lee Woodward, chairman of the board for Coastal Healthcare Alliance; and Ann Bresnahan, co-chair of the capital campaign committee. The event highlighted local corporate donors, including Viking Lumber, Camden National Bank and Allen Agency. Other early donors include The First National Bank, Spectrum Health and CedarWorks. Early foundation contributors include the Sunshine Lady Foundation, the Libra Foundation, the Davis
ABOVE: Chris Rector, regional representative for Senator Angus King; Vicki Doudera, House District 94, Camden, Islesboro & Rockport; Ann Bresnahan, campaign co-chair; Richard Peterson, president MaineHealth and CEO, Maine Medical Center; Lee Woodward, chair, Coastal Healthcare Alliance Board; David Flanagan, president, Viking Lumber, campaign volunteer and Coastal Healthcare Alliance board member; Mark Fourre, MD, president, Pen Bay Medical Center (PBMC) and Waldo County General Hospital; Mark Eggena, MD, chief medical officer, PBMC; Joanne Campbell, executive vice president of risk, Camden National Bank; Mark Breton, chief financial officer, Cedarworks, campaign volunteer and development committee member; Samantha Hill, vice president/senior business relationship officer, The First National Bank. BELOW: An artist’s rendering of the new Health Center.
Family Foundation and the Fisher Foundation. The new Health Center will be a two story stand-alone building. In addition to a community room, the first floor will house the pediatrics, audiology and speech pathology, and ear, nose and throat practices, as well as pediatric physical and occupational therapy. The Health Center will also provide space where specialists from the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center can meet with patients in Rockport, reducing the need for children with special health needs to travel to Portland. The second floor will house the
internal medicine, family medicine and psychiatry practices, as well as the Integrated Medicated Assisted Treatment (IMAT) practice for treating opioid use disorder. Construction will start in late July and the building will be ready for occupancy late in the summer of 2020. Hebert Construction LLC, of Lewiston, will serve as construction manager. The architect, SMRT Inc., has designed many health care spaces, including the Dorothy Walker Bush Pavilion at Southern Maine Health Care in Biddeford and the emergency department at Holyoke Medical Center in Massachusetts. Hospital officials praised
early donors whose generous gifts helped raise 70 percent of the total cost of the building, enough to begin construction. Ann Bresnahan, the co-chair of the capital campaign, said early participation by major donors sends a message that this building is a priority for our communities. “But even as we celebrate this milestone, it is important to remember that we still need to raise a significant amount of money to complete this important project,” Bresnahan said. “This summer we will continue conversations with neighbors and friends to ensure that we achieve our fundraising goals.”