Ribbon cutting ceremony marks the opening of the new Northern Light CA Dean Hospital

Date: 02/19/2024

Employees, donors, legislative representatives, Northern Light Health officials, and friends of Northern Light CA Dean Hospital gathered on Friday, February 16 for a ribbon cutting to signify the opening of the Moosehead Lake Region’s new hospital.

In her remarks, CA Dean Hospital president Marie Vienneau, FACHE, honored those who have led the way in fulfilling the promise for healthcare in the region over the years, including Charles A. Dean, who established Greenville’s first hospital in 1911; Doc Pritham, who traveled by horse, boat, train, and plane for more than six decades to care for patients; and most recently, Dr. Peter Buck, whose $4 million gift to the Preserving the Promise Capital Campaign helped fund the new hospital.

“Today, we recognize those who have inspired us to strengthen healthcare in our region for the next generation,” she says. “We also celebrate those who are carrying the promise forward, including our dedicated staff who have worked so hard for our patients in a hospital that was built for how care was provided decades ago. Despite this challenge, they are exceeding expectations in every way: last year, CA Dean Hospital was named a top 20 critical access hospital in the nation for quality.”

CA Dean Hospital will welcome its first patients into the 11,550 new main hospital building, the Buck Family Building, on February 27. Renovations are now underway to the existing East Wing, which includes additional patient rooms, physical and occupational therapy, and the hospital kitchen. The East Wing will re-open in May as the Allen Family Wing.

After the ribbon was cut, guests were invited to tour the Buck Family Building and learn about the features of the new hospital and how patients will benefit:

• In the four-room Emergency Department, CA Dean staff will consult with specialists on trauma care, behavioral health, and other services. A connection with Massachusetts General Hospital provides access to a vascular neurologist or neurointensivist within five minutes.
• The private patient rooms provide a quiet, comfortable environment for patients to rest and recover. Three rooms have advanced specialty care monitoring at the bedside for critically ill pediatric and adult patients, including stroke and cardiac care patients.
• The new CT scanner and x-ray equipment offer fast scan times, a higher level of detail, and the lowest possible radiation doses. All-new laboratory equipment will provide faster diagnosis and treatment for patients.

Guests were also invited to explore CA Dean Hospital’s new mobile mammography van. The new unit, purchased with congressional funds secured by Senator Susan Collins, will provide women in the region with timely, convenient access to potentially lifesaving screening closer to home. The van will open for screening the in the spring.

In reflecting upon the ribbon cutting, Linda Gilbert, chair of the CA Dean Hospital Board of Trustees, noted that the Moosehead Lake Region now has the hospital that the community needs and deserves.

“Families who are thinking about moving here can see that we have a good hospital here,” she says. “Businesses looking to set up shop in Greenville know that we’ll have good healthcare here for a long time to come. A modern hospital, great schools, and a strong business base are the pillars of vibrant communities, and in Greenville and the surrounding area, we can proudly say that we have all three.”