Maine’s Mount Desert Island (MDI) Hospital in Bar Harbor is moving forward with a $42 million expansion and renovation. This includes enlarging the emergency room and acquiring a clinic in Southwest Harbor to improve its services. Despite winter, Maine remains active in construction, with several major projects underway.

MDI Hospital received state approval for the expansion in early December. The plans include significant updates to the hospital’s laboratory, physical therapy, orthopedics, and urology spaces, as well as a threefold expansion of its Bar Harbor emergency room. “It's 129 years young next year, and we really needed to do some renovations,” said hospital President and CEO Chrissi Maguire.

“We're still a little hidden back there,” noted Mariah Cormier, the hospital's spokesperson, regarding the facility’s accessibility, which will be improved with a new entrance. The expansion is expected to help address the challenge of patient overflow during the busy tourist season, providing easier access for both residents and visitors.

Alongside these updates, the hospital has acquired the Acadia Family Center in Southwest Harbor. The acquisition will aid in reorganizing medical services to better meet local and tourist needs. “There will be a lot of administrative functions over there,” Cormier explained.

Other notable projects across Maine include a luxury townhouse complex in Portland and a maintenance facility in Gardiner. These projects, along with the ongoing hospital expansion, highlight the continued growth and development within the state despite the colder months.

“Securing the certificate of need approval marks a pivotal moment for Mount Desert Island Hospital,” said Maguire. The expansion is expected to improve patient care and infrastructure, contributing to the area's growth.