BY ADAM ATKINSONNorth Country This Week

POTSDAM -- More than 200 residents, healthcare professionals, local dignitaries, contractors and donors showed up for the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the new regional care pavilion at Canton-Potsdam Hospital.

The ceremony, held Monday, Oct. 7, featured speakers, refreshments and tours inside the newest St. Lawrence Health facility. The facility's new emergency department opened late last month.

The rest of the new addition will open for care on Oct. 15.

The almost $80 million, four story building raises the Potsdam skyline and, hospital officials hope, the level of care to the state-of-art for local residents.

Several speakers from Rochester Regional Health, St. Lawrence Health's parent affiliate, SLH, and Canton-Potsdam Hospital delivered opening remarks about the project's completion and the next steps for the health system.

"This is a very exciting day, obviously, for this facility, and for this community," said Mark Cornett, chairman of the SLH board, during opening ceremonies.  

"Our patients, you all, deserve our growth of services. And we are proud to share that there are many more initiatives on the way for more advanced care here in St. Lawrence County," Cornett said.

"Today is more than just a ribbon cutting," said Rochester Regional Health CEO Richard Davis. Davis called the ribbon cutting the "beginning of an exciting chapter" in healthcare for not only Rochester Regional, but for CPH and the region.

"This is an investment in not only our facilities but really in people, families and all the communities that we serve," Davis said.

He said St. Lawrence Health was "leading the way" in how rural healthcare is delivered to patients and communities.

"We are absolutely committed as a health system with bringing innovative care solutions to the community," Davis said.

"The last two years have flown by and we are in the final stages of moving into our new regional care pavilion., which doubles the size of our campus," said SLH president Donna McGregor. 

McGregor touted the contributions of the hospital staff in helping to design the new space.

"From the onset our team members have been an integral part of this project," McGregor said.

During her remarks, McGregor said there were zero lost time incidents during the construction of the new wing, crediting the work and management of the project by the construction team from Pike Construction Services. The project was the largest ground up hospital project the firm has taken on to date.

The president also touted the contributions and donations of local stakeholders to the overall project cost. Around $15 million dollars was raised from private, corporate and non-profit donors, to help cover the $79,860,000 price tag for the new 108,000-square-foot expansion.

After the opening remarks, health system officials lined up and cut a 30 foot ribbon in front of the entrance to the new facility.

Those gathered were then able to tour the new facility. 

The new building features 60 private, single occupancy inpatient rooms that are 28% larger, as well as accommodations for family, where medically appropriate.

Eleven additional patient emergency department treatment rooms (for a total of 28 rooms) are also part of the new layout.