Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 13 M A R C H 5 , 2 0 1 8 F O C U S H E A L T H C A R E and address other challenges such as separating patients with behavioral issues and gender-matching. Maine Med, which plans to invest $512 million in coming years, is planning an extensive modernization project that will convert more of the hospital to pri- vate rooms — about 80% private rooms, compared with 49% today. e project will also build new procedural rooms and more parking. "Our goals for some time have been to fi nd the most cost-eff ective way to move away from semi-private to private rooms and to supply the surgical suites we need to provide," says Jeff Sanders, chief operating offi cer and executive vice president. Updating aging infrastructure On this 12.52-acre campus, it's the latest and most extensive construction project since Maine Med opened in 1874. Private rooms are just one new feature planned as part of Maine Med's investment. Overall, the expansion will add 327,000 square feet to the existing 1.15 million square feet. Along with that, it will add 300 to 400 new employ- ees, adding to a current workforce of approximately 8,000. Driven by a combination of aging infrastructure and evolving stan- dards of medical care, the investment will address a chronic shortage of beds, modernize treatment facili- ties, improve patient experience and better accommodate today's larger and highly sophisticated technology, including surgical robots. e $512 million expansion will be funded by retained earnings, bonds and philanthropy. A three-phase expansion Maine Med's expansion will be done in three phases, pending approvals from the Portland Planning Board: Phase 1: expected to start this May and last 20 months, will include con- struction of a 60,000-square-foot, two-story addition atop the East Tower on Crescent Street. It will have a helipad on the roof. ree fl oors will be added atop the visitor garage on Congress Street, adding 225 parking spaces; that project is expected to take six months. Maine Med's central utility plant, on Gilman Street, will be upgraded with a 2,400-ton chiller and two cooling towers. Phase 2: will include a 10-story, freestanding garage at 222 St. John St. to accommodate 2,400 spaces for employee parking. Phase 3: will include demoli- tion of the existing 1,200-space employee garage, on Congress Street. In its place will be the main portion of the overall project — a 270,000-square-foot, seven-story building. Five stories will be used for clinical use. e other two stories will house private inpatient beds, 19 procedure rooms, expanded outpa- tient services and a new entrance that will change the campus's orientation to Congress Street (from the current side-street orientation). Completion is expected by the end of 2022. About $50 million will be invested in outpatient facilities through the system's Maine Medical Partners multi-specialty practice organization. ose plans are still in the works. C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » d o w c m . c o m The power of brothers to make things happen. Bill Dow, CFP ® Portfolio Manager (207) 878-1573 Mike Dow, MBA Portfolio Manager (207) 878-1574 Securities offered through Bolton Global Capital, Inc., 579 Main St., Bolton, MA. Member FINRA, SIPC 978-779-5361. Advisory services offered through Bolton Global Asset Management, a SEC registered investment advisor. DWC/DW30027 Planning Board hearings Maine Medical Center antici- pates appearing before the Portland Planning Board as follows, with neighborhood meetings along the way: Phase 1: Workshop has been held; hearing in March Phase 2: Workshops in March and April; hearing in May Phase 3: Workshops in June and July; hearing in August It used to be you'd be It used to be you'd be It used to be you'd be It used to be you'd be It used to be you'd be It used to be you'd be It used to be you'd be It used to be you'd be It used to be you'd be It used to be you'd be It used to be you'd be It used to be you'd be It used to be you'd be It used to be you'd be admitted, say, with admitted, say, with admitted, say, with admitted, say, with admitted, say, with admitted, say, with admitted, say, with admitted, say, with admitted, say, with admitted, say, with admitted, say, with admitted, say, with admitted, say, with pneumonia. Now you have pneumonia and maybe diabetes and underlying heart failure. And the state of Maine has a very high aging population. Patients who are older come in with more problems. The final factor is that more-specialized care can only be done by certain hospitals. — Dr. Joel Botler Chief medical offi cer

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