Bath Community Hospital begins $14 million expansion/renovation

Bath Community Hospital signaled the beginning of a three-year, $14 million expansion and renovation with a groundbreaking ceremony Monday that previewed coming enhancements.  The project will bring a new helipad and cafeteria, larger emergency department and more space for the latest medical services.

Community leaders joined hospital employees at the groundbreaking and announced plans for a community fund-raising campaign to start next month that will help pay for the new amenities.

“Today we are officially embarking on a much-needed renovation of Bath Community Hospital,” David Troast, chairman of the hospital’s board of directors, said in a statement. “We must ensure this hospital is providing the services that this community needs. “

An expanded emergency department and clinic will enable the hospital to update many departments with modern equipment in such areas as radiology, inpatient physical therapy and respiratory therapy.

Jason Paret, the hospital’s CEO, says the project also will help recruit top-notch medical professionals.

“The addition of a helipad located beside the hospital will dramatically reduce medical transport times. In addition, having a modern, state-of-the-art hospital will help to attract high quality physicians, nurse practitioners and other health-care providers.”

Paret stressed that hospital operations and services will continue as normal during construction, which is expected to continue until 2015.

Bath Community Hospital is a not-for-profit, critical access hospital. It has a licensed capacity of 25 beds for acute or skilled care. The hospital provides 24-hour emergency services, as well as a select range of diagnostic services, rehabilitative services and specialty clinics.