Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital broke ground this week on a new emergency department expansion and hospital renovation project that it hopes will provide a higher level of urgent care for Michigan's Ontonagon County. Financial details of the project were not disclosed.
The 8,200 square foot expansion and renovation project was celebrated during a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday at the hospital, with community residents joining Aspirus leadership and hospital staff for the event. They were joined by State Representative Scott Dianda and corporate leadership from Miron Construction, which is handling building duties for the project. The Aspirus MedEvac helicopter, local first responders, and local and state law enforcement were also present.
The expansion and renovation was designed with an eye toward patient privacy and safety. The project includes efficient, upgraded emergency care rooms; canopied entrances for easy access by patients and emergency medical service personnel; and updated patient rooms, halls and nursing areas.
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Aspirus Ontonagon's emergency department will be fully operational for the duration of the project, and is slated for completion in March 2017.
"As a nonprofit organization, Aspirus proudly reinvests every margin dollar in people, facilities and technology," said Chuck Nelson, Aspirus Upper Peninsula Regional CEO, in a statement. "This project is a great example of that."
He said that, in addition to providing resources to support the Ontonagon project, Aspirus has committed millions of dollars to construction and renovation projects elsewhere in the upper peninsula, including Keweenaw, Ironwood and Iron River.
Twitter: @JELagasse