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Mercy dedicates new Fore River Campus
View the Grand Opening

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Mercy Health System of Maine held a public grand opening of its new Fore River campus on Wednesday, September 10. The first patients will be treated at the new hospital in less than two weeks, marking the culmination of a years-long planning and construction process and the beginning of a new chapter in the history of health care in Greater Portland.

The new Fore River campus is 42 acres (compared to three acres at State Street) and includes a $16 million, 80,000 square foot medical office building and a $49.5 million, 151,000 square foot Phase I hospital, which houses diagnostic imaging, laboratory, inpatient and outpatient surgical services, and The Birthplace. The new medical office building and hospital is Phase I of a two-phase project that will eventually relocate all of Mercy Hospital’s services from the State Street campus to the Fore River campus. The State Street campus will continue as a full-service hospital and will continue to operate Mercy’s only 24-hour Emergency Department. The full relocation of all Mercy services to the Fore River campus is anticipated well in time for Mercy’s 100-year anniversary in 2018. Phase II will add an addition to the hospital that will include the Emergency Department, inpatient medical services, additional surgery suites, the Critical Care Unit and acute care beds.

In April of 2008, Fore River Urology and New England Foot and Ankle Specialists, departments of Mercy Hospital, began seeing patients at the medical office building, along with numerous local physician practices. Joining them now are Mercy’s Oncology/Hematology Center, Breast Care Specialists of Maine, Lymphedema Treatment Center and Fore River Family Practice.

“It’s hard to put into words how much hard work and dedication to Mercy’s mission was required to see this project through to completion,” said Eileen Skinner, President and CEO of Mercy Health System of Maine. “So many people gave so much to make the vision of a new Mercy Hospital campus a reality. Thanks to them, we will be able to continue to deliver clinically excellent, compassionate care to every person who walks through our doors for generations to come.”

The new hospital incorporates several features from the State Street location, including the Mercy shield, which is integrated in cast stone above the new entrance; Portland red brick; and a new chapel featuring the original stained glass from Mercy Hospital chapel on State Street. The buildings are oriented along a north-south axis, which gives all patient rooms a view of the Fore River. All Birthplace suites feature a Jacuzzi tub, and hospitality touches include a lobby fireplace and beautiful, comfortable waiting areas with views of the Fore River. The patient rooms and public areas make abundant use of natural light, and the interior design reflects Maine’s sandy beaches and coastline. As part of Mercy’s commitment to provide the healthiest environment possible for patients and visitors, Mercy’s new Fore River campus is a tobacco-free campus.

“There can be no question, this is a project that was sorely needed to meet the increasing health care needs of the Greater Portland community. We were doing our best to provide 21st century health care within the limitations of a mid-20th century infrastructure at State Street, but it was becoming more and more inefficient and difficult,”

Mercy Hospital's Report to the Community (2007)
View Mercy Hospital’s 2007 Report to the Community