Emergency Dept. Ground Breaking

Hospital celebrates Emergency Dept. ground breaking

Spring showers didn't dampen the spirits of those in attendance at a recent groundbreaking ceremony on the grounds of Johnson Memorial Hospital. The ceremony, which took place April 3, signaled the start of a construction and renovation project that will increase the size of the Hospital's Emergency Department by 157 percent, making way for increased patient comfort and privacy, additional state-of-the-art technology and streamlined services.

In his remarks, JMH President and CEO Alfred A. Lerz commented, "Those of you who have been a patient in our Emergency Department or who have accompanied a loved one here in recent years know two things: 1) we have a fantastic staff of skilled, caring physicians, nurses and other professionals; 2) they are working in crisis conditions due to serious overcrowding. We are in dire need of this expansion so that we can continue offering exceptional care and cutting-edge technology long into the future. The health and well-being of our community depend on it."

Among guests at the groundbreaking ceremony were JMH Board members and Trustees, community leaders, donors, Hospital personnel and the architects and builders involved in the construction. In addition to Mr. Lerz, speakers included Lois Skala, Director Development and Community Relations, JMH; Richard P. Dobson, Sr., First Vice Chairman, Board of Trustees, JMH; Charles Bizilj, M.D., Medical Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, JMH; and Congressman Robert Simmons, 2nd Congressional District.

In concluding his remarks, Mr. Lerz offered his gratitude to those present. "We would not be here now without your support and I don't mean just today for this groundbreaking," he commented. "Through the years, you have rallied around our hospital and health network at every turn in the road, helping us to overcome the obstacles and achieve our goals for the good of those we serve."

The new Emergency Department is expected to be complete in 2007. Further details can be found online at www.EDexpansion.com or by calling the Hospital's Development and Community Relations Department at (860) 684-8109.