Portsmouth Regional Hospital renovations include ICU in 'exciting and needed expansion'

Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover, NH)

May 11—PORTSMOUTH — A project for expansion, originally planned pre-pandemic, has begun at Portsmouth Regional Hospital.

The project will expand the Intensive Care Unit to a second floor that will add 11 new ICU beds and eight beds to the Med Surge step down unit, and will see a complete renovation to the emergency room entrance and waiting areas.

"We had actually started the expansion project just before COVID hit," said Dean Carucci, CEO of the hospital. "Because of the pandemic, the project was delayed for nine months. As things have started to get back on track, both locally and nationally, we find we are at capacity in these areas so we are eager to get the expansion going again."

Carucci said the project represents a $21.6 million investment in the hospital infrastructure. He added it should bring an additional 35 full-time jobs.

"This will bring fantastic growth capabilities," said Matt Larkin, the hospital's COO. "Adding the second floor above the current ICU will add 11 new ICU beds, and eight step down beds. It will enhance our current imaging departments. We are really excited about the changes coming for the emergency room entry and waiting areas, too. It's an exciting and needed expansion."

Larkin said the way the project is structured, it creates no impact to current traffic patterns, being that most of the construction is on the second level.

"The community support for this project has been tremendous," said Carucci. "We just received comprehensive stroke accreditation and an A in the Leapfrog scores. We are really proud of the direction we are moving in."

Portsmouth Regional Hospital was awarded an 'A' from The Leapfrog Group's spring 2021 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade. The designation recognizes Portsmouth Regional Hospital's efforts in protecting patients from harm and meeting the highest safety standards in the United States. The Leapfrog Group describes itself as an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade assigns a grade to all general hospitals across the country every six months and is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on hospitals' prevention of medical errors and other harms to patients in their care.

"The anticipated completion date for the new hospital areas is January or February of 2022," hospital spokesperson Lynn Robbins said. "It's easy to talk bricks and mortar, but by then we anticipate all inspections and licensing to be completed and we will be ready to open the new areas."

The pandemic meant a year lost to everyone, including growth plans for the hospital, Carucci said.

"We had to close or greatly reduce some areas of operations, many that were a big part of our revenue stream," said Carucci. "Our main focus in 2021 was resiliency for our staff. We worked hard to support our people. Now, volumes are up again and we are beginning to head in the right direction. "

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