COURTESY OF SOUTHCOAST HEALTH: Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
WAREHAM – Southcoast Health has announced that it will make a multi-million dollar investment in a state-of-the-art emergency department and private inpatient rooms at Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
The new emergency department will have the capacity to treat 40,000 patients a year.
The current emergency department is designed to serve 15,000 patients annually, but had a volume of more than 31,000 patients in 2016.
The expanded facility will have in excess of 30 rooms and greatly reduce wait times for patients.
And while the number of total hospital beds at Tobey Hospital will remain the same, the additional private rooms will provide an enhanced experience for patients and guests.
“It’ll be completely new, completely state-of-the-art and the new emergency department will be on the first floor and then above that, will be space for private in-patient rooms,” said Southcoast Health Public Information Officer Peter Cohenno.
Tobey Hospital was on the verge of closing prior to the Southcoast Health merger in 1996.
The Southcoast Center for Weight Loss is the highest volume bariatric program in New England, while the Makepeace Maternity Center is recognized nationally as a baby friendly facility.
The new addition at Tobey Hospital is funded in part by the Campaign for Southcoast Health — a $25 million capital fundraising campaign, which is the largest in the not-for-profit healthcare system’s history.
The campaign is also raising funds for the Stoico/FIRSTFED maternity center at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford and the Harold and Virginia Lash Heart and Vascular Center at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River.
In order to provide for the addition to Tobey Hospital, the Tobey Homestead will need to be razed or moved to accommodate for this project.
“We don’t have a great idea yet of when it will be complete, but we are shooting for some time in the summer to begin construction,” said Cohenno.
Southcoast Health officials said that they’re committed to working closely with town officials and community members in the process.
By JUSTIN SAUNDERS, CapeCod.com Newscenter
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