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Jersey Shore Hospital dedication and open house brings out crowds
Jersey Shore, PA (July 20, 2008) - It was not after one, but after three ribbon cutting ceremonies that the first visitors, staff and hospital officials made their way into the new Jersey Shore Hospital two-story addition.
Though the building does not open for patients until July 30 so proper sterilization procedures can be completed, the facility was dedicated Saturday morning and opened to the public for tours.
Tours also continue today from noon to 4 p.m.
The hospital's board of directors, medical staff and employees cut the three ribbons around the addition's main entrance/emergency room doorway after hospital officials, board of directors and local politicians gave their remarks on the occasion and on the facility itself.
"This was truly a community effort, and this is your hospital, our hospital," Hubert A. Valencik, board of directors chairman, said.
Ground was broken for the 45,000-square-foot structure, an addition to the main hospital, in November 2006, borough Mayor Mark Lehman said.
"Jersey Shore, this is a great thing and again, thank you," Lehman said.
The emergency department, the radiology department, three operating rooms, an endoscopy suite and a nine-bed same-day surgical unit comprise the first floor. The in-patient treatment area which includes a separate four-bed critical care unit with a nursing station, is located on the second floor.
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The Jersey Shore Hospital Board of Directors on Saturday cut the first of three ribbons during a dedication and open house of the hospital’s new,
two-story facility |
Dr. Carmen Spinney, medical staff chairwoman, said the addition was a "labor of love," but added that the challenge still is ahead for those in the facility to provide the highest level of service.
Hospital president and CEO Carey W. Plummer said the addition provides the community "a spacious, safe facility ... with state of the art equipment."
"This has given us the nucleus to grow and expand the services of this hospital," Plummer said.
Gary Rothrock, representing the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said he grew up in Williamsport, and his wife and daughter were both born in Jersey Shore Hospital, giving him a personal connection to the facility. A $15 million U.S. Department of Agriculture loan funded the project, along with a $2.5 million capital campaign launched to pay for equipment, and Rothrock said with the loan process used, taxpayers only picked up about $1 million of the funding, calling the facility a prime example of a successful public-private partnership.
Board member William Camerer, building committee chairman, thanked patients and guests for working with the hospital during the construction, saying that no drop off in patient service during that time helped keep finances stable as the work progressed.
Board member Gilbert Maton, who served on the building committee, said his wife and daughter also were born at the hospital. He wished those in attendance much health so hopefully they'll never have to utilize the hospital.
"But if you do need it, come on over," Maton said. "I think you'll like it, the way you'll be treated."
State Rep. Garth Everett, R-Muncy, also gave remarks, and LeRoy Keiler III, board vice chairman read a statement on behalf of U.S. Rep. John E. Peterson, R-Pleasantville, who could not attend.
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