Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Jan Tucker/Daily Globe Terri SaAri, registered nurse at Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital, demonstrates Accu-Vein equipment, which helps medical personnel locate hard to reach veins. Three-year-old Kanin Beck was surprised to see his hand veins. The equipment was financed through the Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital Foundation, which also had pictures of some of the items purchased for the hospital.
ONTONAGON - More than 200 people turned out to celebrate the $2.8 million expansion project at Aspirus Ontonagon Hospital Thursday.
The state-of-the-art 8,210-square-foot expansion and in-patient unit renovation drew praises from residents as they toured the facility, which fully enhances and expands emergency care for Ontonagon County and the region.
Charlotte Mallotte, who came to Ontonagon in 1974 and worked 25 years as a nurse, including the emergency room at Ontonagon, called the new facility "beautiful." She especially said the four emergency rooms enhance the privacy of patients, replacing a one-room emergency station, with a curtain cutting it in half. "This shows that Aspirus is really committed to this community," she added.
The most common words said by those interviewed as they toured the hospital were privacy in the emergency room, commitment by Aspirus to be a permanent part of the community and faith in the future of the area shown by the investment. "The $2.8 million investment by Aspirus is future-orientated," Downtown Development council member Dan Sullivan said. "They are looking ahead and have faith in our future."
Resident Joan Dahlstrom called the new hospital expansion and renovation, "an encouraging vote of confidence in the community."
Renee Birely and Jane Store, at the nurses station, pointed to the spacious desk area and video cameras, which show the reception area, emergency room area and parking lot. "We can see what is going on and it is also a safety issue," Birely added.
Several residents commented they have already had family members in the emergency room and cited the good treatment and bright surroundings of the new facility.
Lining the walls of the hospital are painting and photography submitted in a contest by staff and the public. It drew comments from visitors who cited the beauty captured in the pictures.
The doctors who man the emergency room on a rotating basis flew into the Ontonagon airport to be a part of the open house. The group is from ERX, Knoxville, Tenn., from many areas of the U.S. They commented the emergency room is "truly state-of-the-art" and one of the finest they have worked in.
Deanna Wilson, Vice President of Patient Care Services, said she was "thrilled at the turnout" for the open house. All the staff of the hospital was involved in the day. Many conducted tours, while others worked to provide and distribute snacks and were available provide information and direct traffic to the right places.
Wilson noted the project is "focused on patient privacy, safety, comfort and efficiency."
