Miramichi Regional Hospital Celebrates its 25th Anniversary December 17, 2021 This week marked 25 years of Horizon’s Miramichi Regional Hospital (MRH) helping people be healthy. “The staff, physicians, volunteers of this hospital are an integral part of the community, more so now than ever, and we are so thankful their dedication to their patients and to Horizon,” said Marilyn Underhill, Executive Director of MRH. “We need to acknowledge the unwavering quality care our staff and physicians have provided over the last 25 years, and especially the last 22 months.” Dr. John Dornan, Horizon’s interim President and CEO, said 25 years is a great milestone to celebrate, and wanted to thank all the health care workers in Miramichi for always delivering quality care. “Thank you all for your dedication and support in helping our patients, their families and each other over the last 25 years,” said Dr. Dornan. “Congratulations, and we look forward to the next 25 years of helping people be healthy in Miramichi.” The MRH opened its doors to the public on Dec. 15, 1996. To mark this anniversary, a Zoom event was held with Miramichi-area staff and physicians, Auxiliary and Foundation members, and invited guests. Following an Indigenous blessing and song from Elder Tulley Paul, participants heard from Horizon staff, and local dignitaries all of whom have a long-standing and collaborative relationship with MRH. When the facility welcomed its first patients on Dec. 15, 1996, MRH replaced the Miramichi Hospital in Newcastle, and Hotel Dieu in Chatham. The Miramichi Hospital was built in 1915, while Hotel Dieu had been operational since 1869. “Spending my career as a physician in Miramichi, first as a family doctor, then as an Emergency Department physician has been so fulfilling both personally and professionally – from working alongside incredible colleagues from all areas of health care to providing care to patients from this area and beyond,” said Dr. Bill Martin, Chief of Staff for the Miramichi area. “Any potential recruit is certain to fall in love with this hospital and the community, especially after we show them the view from the hospital’s cafeteria, our stunning Miramichi River.” The hospital continues to provide a full complement of health care services to the City of Miramichi and surrounding communities, including General Surgery; Urology; Internal Medicine; Psychiatry; Orthopedics; Ophthalmology; and Oncology. A large variety of ambulatory care services are also provided including a Healthy Kids Pediatric Ambulatory Care program. Today, MRH has 1,200 staff, physicians and volunteers. The 350,000-square-feet six-level hospital opened with 1,200 rooms and 173 beds, and cost about $110 million to build. Since then, health care providers have been equipped with new technologies, including a permanent MRI (2013), a 64-slice CT scanner (2016) and Accredited Digital Mammogram machines (2008). In the last five years, the Oncology Clinic was expanded and the Emergency Department waiting area has been upgraded, thanks to generous donations from the Miramichi Regional Hospital Foundation. As well, the Geriatric Clinic is now operational, three new airborne isolation rooms have been added to the facility, and a second laproscopy suite has been added to the Operating Room theatres. Upcoming projects include improvements to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) waiting area, renovations to the endoscopy suite in Ambulatory Care clinic, upgrading the facility’s cardiac central monitoring system; and the addition of a private space in the hospital’s Emergency Department to ensure focused, inclusive and service-oriented care to patients who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. – 30 – For more information contact: Kris McDavidMedia RelationsHorizon Health Network1-877-499-1899Media@HorizonNB.cahorizonnb.ca/news