|
|
|
|
FARMINGTON – Standing where soot and water once stood a little more than one week ago, the Franklin Health Medical Arts Center’s west wing staff smiled, gave thanks and quickly cut the ceremonial ribbon before returning to their clean offices in time to greet their patients this morning.
Outside the lobby’s double doors, a large crane lifted two by fours up two floors to one of the holes fire fighters had cut in the early morning hours of Jan. 30 to find and extinguish a fire that by day’s end had severely damage the east wing’s roof. Although the emergency sprinkler system and fire fighter diligence worked to quickly contain the fire to the attic area, smoke, heat and water damage to the east wing’s top floor of offices was severe. It may be six to nine months before the east wing can be opened, said Rebecca Ryder, Franklin Community Health Network president/CEO today. It may take an estimated $7 to 9 million to renovate the east wing and replace the medical equipment destroyed by the fire.
While investigators with the state’s Fire Marshal’s Office said the cause of the fire may be a few weeks in determining, a professional cleaning company swept through the west wing, lobby and ground floor to rid those areas of any evidence there was once smoke and water damage. The two upper floors of the heavily damaged east wing have been sealed off as workers began to first shore up the roof and begin renovations.
On Friday, Richard Dwyer, health facilities specialist for the Medical Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services inspected the building and declared the lobby and west wing safe and open for patients with appointments at the Franklin Health Women’s Care, Orthopaedics, and the Martha B. Webber Breast Care Center.
Franklin Health Surgery, Urology, and Pediatrics, which were located in the east wing that suffered the most damage, have relocated to temporary spaces. Patients with appointment this week should check-in as follows: Pediatrics: Wilton Family Practice; Surgery: Registration desk on the 2nd floor of the hospital; and Urology: Registration desk on the 2nd floor of the hospital.
Anyone who is unsure where to go for an appointment should call a prerecorded hotline for instructions at 779-2163.
Amid a few brightly colored balloons, a staff was grateful to be back at work in their offices after a week of temporary locations.
“A lot of hard work went into making the building safe again, said Gerald Cayer, Franklin Community Health Network executive vice president to the gathering in the lobby this morning. “We want to welcome you back.”
After cutting the red ribbon, Constance Adler, a physician with Women’s Care, said she is glad to be back in her office and seeing her patients. “The people here have been amazing through all of this. We really appreciate all the hard work that went into this,” she said.
Walking through the west wing as patients began to arrive, Ryder said the fire’s trauma showed her the staff was prepared to handle it.
“It took everyone to pull this off,” Ryder said. “This was a real challenge and it brought out the best in everyone.”
|
|
